People in Africa were as innovative as people in other parts of the world. Their contributions to science, technology, medicine, philosophy, social theory and the arts have often been neglected outside of the African continent. Rediscovery starts with being aware of where your own blind spots are.

Tanja Hammel and Doris Osei Afriyie discovered only late in their university education that history and global health included much more than the facts they had learned in their curricula. During their studies and travels, they became aware that many perspectives have been ignored or silenced. In this video, they look back and recount their personal experiences of education as well as their search for the bigger picture.

Many people probably share this experience. We all grow up in a specific time period or a frame of mind that neglects or even silences the accomplishments of others. In this course, if we are going to explore how global health can benefit from African contributions, we have to start by asking ourselves the following questions: where do the blind spots in our own upbringing come from? How can we overcome them? If you feel inspired to find an image related to your own blind spots – share it on this Padlet.

Meet some of the other educators from the coming chapters as they explain how they came to study African Contributions to Global Health. Download the PDF with their stories.

Related link

Basler Afrika Bibliographien

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