By Black Star News
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
The African Union is joining an effort to urge global institutions to adopt a new map of Africa that more accurately shows the true size of the world’s second largest continent.
The “Correct the Map” campaign seeks to introduce maps that more correctly illustrates the true size of the continent.
The campaign seeks to end the use of the Mercator Map, which has been in use since 1599. The Mercator Map, which was created by geographer and cartographer Gerardus Mercator, is known to distort the true larger size of continents like Africa, and South America, by making them appear smaller—while making continents like North America and Europe look bigger.
Selma Malika Haddadi, African Union Commission deputy chair, said Mercator sought to marginalize Africa. “It might seem to be just a map, but in reality, it is not.” She said the African Union’s joining of the new map campaign is the need for “reclaiming Africa’s rightful place on the global stage.”
Africa No Filter’s executive director, Moky Makura, said, “The current size of the map of Africa is wrong. It’s the world’s longest misinformation and disinformation campaign, and it just simply has to stop.”
Speak Up Africa’s co-founder Fara Ndiaye spoke of the negative affect the Mercator Map has had on school children and spoke of the need for curriculum change. “We’re actively working on promoting a curriculum where the Equal Earth projection will be the main standard across all [African] classrooms,” Ndiaye said.
The Mercator Map is still widely used and the Correct The Map campaign wants international organizations such as the United Nations and World Bank to adopt maps that are more accurate. The World Bank is reportedly phasing out use of the Mercator Map.
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