Africa challenges colonial cartography with 'correct the map' campaign

The African Union (AU) has endorsed a bold campaign to replace the outdated Mercator map projection with a more accurate representation of Africa, challenging centuries of geographical distortion that have diminished the continent’s size and significance on the global stage.

For over 400 years, the Mercator map, created in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator, has exaggerated the size of regions near the poles, like Europe and North America, while shrinking equatorial territories, including Africa. Despite its origins as a navigational tool, this map has perpetuated Eurocentric narratives and reinforced spatial hierarchies that favor Western dominance.

A call for spatial justice

The AU’s support for the “Correct The Map” campaign, led by pan-African organizations Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, marks a significant step toward dismantling these cartographic inequities. The campaign advocates for the adoption of the Equal Earth projection, introduced in 2018, which accurately depicts landmasses without distorting their proportions.

Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter, described the Mercator map as “the world’s longest misinformation campaign,” adding, “It’s time to correct this misrepresentation and reclaim Africa’s spatial dignity.”

Africa, with its 30.3 million square kilometers, can fit Greenland 14 times over. Yet, the Mercator map portrays Greenland, at just 2.16 million square kilometers, as nearly equal in size. This distortion has ingrained the perception of Africa as geographically and politically marginal, a narrative that has supported centuries of exploitation and resource extraction.

Educational and psychological impacts

The campaign also aims to reshape educational systems across Africa. Fara Ndiaye of Speak Up Africa emphasized the psychological harm caused by these misrepresentations. “We’re working to make the Equal Earth projection the standard in African classrooms, decolonizing geographic knowledge and restoring a sense of pride in Africa’s true scale,” she said.

This educational shift seeks to dismantle spatial hierarchies embedded in global consciousness and challenge the ideological foundations of Western supremacy.

International implications

The AU’s endorsement of the campaign signals a broader fight against colonial legacies in global knowledge systems. Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi highlighted the Mercator map’s role in facilitating European maritime dominance and territorial annexation during the colonial era. “It’s not just a map; it’s a tool of subordination that has shaped power dynamics for centuries,” she stated.

The campaign has prompted demands for major international organizations, including the United Nations and World Bank, to abandon the Mercator projection. While the World Bank has begun phasing out the map in favor of alternatives like Equal Earth, progress has been slow and inconsistent.

Beyond Africa, the movement has garnered support from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission. Dorbrene O’Marde, its vice chair, called the Mercator map an “ideology of dominance” and linked the campaign to broader global justice efforts.

Reclaiming Africa’s global presence

The AU’s commitment to promoting the Equal Earth projection among its member states reflects a determination to redefine Africa’s place on the global stage. By challenging the distorted maps that have shaped perceptions for centuries, the campaign aims to restore Africa’s spatial dignity and empower the continent to assert its sovereignty and identity.

This movement is not merely about maps; it is a fight against the epistemological imperialism that continues to marginalize African realities. By addressing these historical injustices, the AU seeks to inspire a future where Africa’s true scale and significance are acknowledged worldwide.