In a world still shaped by historical narratives that distort our understanding of geography and history, the importance of rediscovering Africa's historical relations with Asia cannot be overstated. The most common maps, like the Mercator projection, perpetuate Eurocentric views, shrinking Africa's vast landscape to the periphery of a world centered on Europe. Yet, the African continent is a massive landmass, at the crossroads of some of the most important maritime routes. Understanding its historical connections is essential to reclaiming Africa's rightful place in global history. In this effort, AFROSPECTIVES, in collaboration with the China World Peace Foundation and the UNESCO Silk Roads Programme, organized an international seminar titled "Rediscovering the Ancient Routes and Interactions between China and Africa" in Beijing, September 2024. This significant event brought together scholars and experts from Africa and China to exchange knowledge on their shared history and reflect on future prospects for China-Africa cooperation.
The historical interactions between Africa and China date back to at least the first millennium BCE, with significant exchange networks emerging and expanding until the 15th century CE—networks now referred to as the "Maritime Silk Road." Yet, very little is widely known about these ancient relations, despite the existence of evidence such as Chinese silk found in Egyptian tombs from 1000 BCE, and archaeological discoveries in East African sites like Mogadishu and Kilwa, which contain Chinese artifacts and coins from the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. These exchanges were not limited to trade; they extended to human interactions, diplomacy, and cultural exchanges that crossed boundaries in surprising ways.
Deconstructing Historical Narratives
The seminar underscored the necessity of deconstructing the dominant narratives that continue to frame how we perceive world history. Too often, Africa's interactions beyond Europe have been overlooked or portrayed through a Eurocentric lens. The Chinese-African relations, for instance, are often overshadowed by modern political alliances or economic narratives that began with Mao Zedong's outreach to the continent in the 20th century. Yet, ancient evidence tells a different story—one that situates Africa as a central player in a long-standing and interconnected world.
Speakers such as Professor Felix A. Chami from the University of Dar es Salaam and Professor Augustin F. C. Holl, Vice Chair of AFROSPECTIVES, traced these early Afro-Asian links to the deep past. They revealed how Chinese voyagers referred to East Africa as "Zinj" and how exchanges along the Indian Ocean included everything from spices and precious goods to intellectual exchanges that connected African societies with their Chinese counterparts. The Maritime Silk Road, a network of sea routes spanning from Southeast China to the eastern coasts of Africa, served as a pathway for the exchange of ideas, culture, and commerce—an enterprise driven not by conquest but by mutual curiosity and collaboration.
A Platform for Future Collaboration
The seminar also explored how these historical insights might inform modern policy. As Africa is once again a focal point for new geopolitical confrontations, with numerous international actors seeking a foothold on the continent, the lessons of the past become ever more pertinent. Unlike the exploitative relations that reshaped the world in the 19th and 20th centuries, the early contacts between Africa and China were driven by peaceful negotiation, shared knowledge, and mutual benefit. These relationships stand as an important reference point for imagining what truly equitable partnerships might look like today.
Participants reflected on the significance of these exchanges for today’s geopolitical landscape, recognizing that Africa’s young population—which is expected to constitute over 40% of the world’s population by the end of this century—is seeking new forms of interaction that move beyond historical legacies. Dr. Ali Moussa Iye, Chair of AFROSPECTIVES, emphasized that these emerging generations are aspiring toward a renewed form of Pan-Africanism, one that seeks to define Africa’s position in a new multipolar world order.
Towards a New Understanding of African Contributions
The rediscovery of these ancient connections is an ongoing endeavor that AFROSPECTIVES, in partnership with Chinese academic and cultural institutions, intends to pursue. Beyond academic research, these connections help to reframe Africa’s place in the story of humanity—from passive recipient of external influences to active participant and contributor to global development. The lessons of the Maritime Silk Road—where the intelligence of negotiation and peaceful coexistence took precedence over conquest—can offer valuable guidance for building partnerships based on respect and mutual understanding.
The seminar concluded with a call to action: to continue this research, expand intercultural dialogue, and initiate a collaborative program on the Maritime Silk Road between Africa and China. Such initiatives align closely with UNESCO's broader goal of fostering dialogue and mutual understanding through the appreciation of shared cultural heritage, ultimately building bridges between civilizations. By doing so, AFROSPECTIVES hopes to not only deconstruct myths but to provide a platform for Africans and Chinese alike to rediscover their shared pasts, and to shape a future in which all voices are heard, and all contributions are recognized.
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