African Union Pushes for New World Map That Reflects the Continent’s True Size
The African Union has endorsed a campaign urging governments and global institutions to replace the Mercator projection with maps that more accurately depict Africa’s true scale.
The Mercator map, designed in the 16th century by cartographer Gerardus Mercator for navigation, enlarges regions near the poles, such as Greenland, while shrinking equatorial continents like Africa and South America. As a result, Africa ? home to more than a billion people and the world’s second-largest continent ? appears smaller than Europe or North America.
AU Commission Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi stated that the distortion fosters the impression that Africa is “marginal,” shaping perceptions in education, media, and policy. Advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa are spearheading the “Correct The Map” campaign, which promotes the Equal Earth projection, introduced in 2018 to ensure accurate area representation.
Moky Makura of Africa No Filter called the Mercator map “the world’s longest disinformation campaign.” Co-founder of Speak Up Africa, Fara Ndiaye, added that changing maps in schools could strengthen African identity.
The AU says adopting Equal Earth supports its mission to reclaim Africa’s global standing.
Yesel Kang Copy Editor junior/1757053649/1613367813
1. What campaign has the African Union endorsed regarding world maps?
2. Who designed the Mercator map, and for what purpose?
3. How does the Mercator projection distort the size of continents like Africa?
4. Why does Selma Malika Haddadi say the Mercator map gives the impression that Africa is “marginal”?
1. Why do you think accurate map representations are important for education and media?
2. How might seeing Africa as smaller on maps affect global perceptions and policy decisions?
3. Do you think other continents’ sizes are misrepresented on traditional maps? Why or why not?
4. How can map design influence cultural identity and national pride?
The African Union has endorsed a campaign urging governments and global institutions to replace the Mercator projection with maps that more accurately depict Africa’s true scale.
