The True Size of Africa: Redrawing Maps and Changing Perceptions

Africa’s Misrepresentation on the Map

Have you ever noticed that Africa often looks surprisingly small on most world maps? This is not a mere coincidence but rather a product of historical biases, scientific limitations, and entrenched Eurocentric perspectives that have shaped cartography for centuries. The story of how we see Africa on the map is a tale of power, perception, and misinformation, and it raises the important question of how we think about our world and the systems that shape our understanding of it.

How Africa Got Its Name

The name 'Africa' has a rich and complex history, shaped by the influences of ancient civilizations and colonial powers. The origins of the name are still debated by historians, but one prominent theory suggests it comes from the Latin word 'Africus,' which was used by the Romans to describe the northern part of the continent, particularly the region around present-day Tunisia. Another theory attributes the name to the Berber word 'Ifri,' which refers to a cave or a group of people living in caves, highlighting the indigenous influence in the naming process. Over time, the name 'Africa' became widely adopted to represent the entire continent.

The Evolution of Mapmaking

The history of maps goes back thousands of years, to the time of the Babylonians and ancient Greeks. Early maps were rudimentary attempts at navigating and understanding our surroundings. Ptolemy’s famous world map, developed in the second century, marked one of the first systematic efforts to document the known world using a grid of latitude and longitude—a system still used today to define global coordinates. However, mapmaking as we know it took a significant leap during the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, when European powers sought to expand their territories and dominate trade routes.

During this time, the creation of maps was a powerful tool of empire-building, intended not just for navigation but also for exerting influence over newly discovered territories. As the victors wrote history, they also defined the ways in which the world was represented, often to their own advantage. It is within this context that the Mercator projection, one of the most famous map styles, became the standard. Introduced by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, this projection was ideal for navigation but came at the cost of serious distortions—particularly in the size of continents.

How the Mercator Projection Distorts Our Perception

The Mercator projection was a great boon for sailors; it preserved straight lines that made it easier to chart courses across the oceans. However, its design significantly exaggerates the size of landmasses in the higher latitudes, while shrinking those near the equator. This means that places like Greenland and Europe appear disproportionately large compared to equatorial regions like Africa. In reality, Africa is massive, covering approximately 30.4 million square kilometers—making it larger than the combined land area of the United States, China, India, and most of Europe.

Despite its vastness, the Mercator projection compresses Africa, giving the false impression that it is smaller and less significant compared to northern regions. This distortion has contributed to misconceptions about Africa’s size, resources, and importance, leading many to underestimate its significance on the global stage.

Why Latitude, Longitude, and Bias Matter

The use of latitude and longitude to create maps was meant to bring uniformity to cartography, but the projections used had unintended consequences. By placing Europe in the center of the map and stretching out territories in the northern hemisphere, cartographers gave undue prominence to regions already seen as the core of global power. This Eurocentric worldview became the standard, subtly reinforcing ideas of dominance and shaping public perceptions for centuries.

Our conceptions of north and south, too, are part of this inherited bias. North is often depicted at the top of maps, giving the impression of superiority, while the south is below. This arbitrary choice has come to symbolize more than direction—it has become synonymous with power dynamics, with the "Global North" often seen as more advanced, while the "Global South" is seen as lagging behind.

Consequences of a Misrepresented Africa

The distorted representation of Africa has real-world implications. When the continent is visually minimized, it influences how people perceive its importance, leading to misunderstandings about its capacity, population, and resources. It creates an impression that Africa is smaller, less significant, and somehow less influential. This affects everything from educational curricula to policy decisions and resource allocation, with repercussions for economic development and global engagement.

Moreover, the way we represent Africa and other regions matters for how we prioritize issues like climate change, development aid, and international cooperation. It skews our perception of where challenges and opportunities lie, creating blind spots in global policy-making.

Redrawing the Map: What Should We Do?

To address these biases, we need to consider alternative map projections that reduce distortion and provide a more accurate representation of the world. According to a review of the best map projections, different options serve different purposes, and while no projection is perfect, there are several that offer a fairer representation of Africa's true size. The Gall-Peters projection, for example, maintains the relative area of landmasses, giving a more accurate sense of the scale of regions like Africa.

Another noteworthy alternative is the Winkel Tripel projection, which seeks to balance size, shape, and direction to provide a more visually accurate world map. It minimizes the exaggerations seen in the Mercator projection and presents a view that is less Eurocentric and more balanced in terms of global representation.

These map alternatives challenge us to rethink what we have traditionally accepted as "normal" and encourage us to explore a world view that values all regions equitably.

In addition to adopting new map projections, it is essential to examine our education systems. Geography curricula should include discussions on how different map projections influence our worldview, helping students understand that maps are not just neutral tools but are laden with historical, political, and cultural significance. By fostering critical thinking about cartography, we can cultivate a more informed and nuanced understanding of the world.

To address these biases, we must start by adopting more accurate map projections. One such projection is the AuthaGraph World Map, which is widely regarded as the most accurate map projection available. Invented by Japanese architect Hajime Narukawa in 1999, the AuthaGraph projection equally divides a spherical surface into 96 triangles, which are then projected onto a tetrahedron. This process helps maintain the proportions of land and water, allowing the map to unfold into a perfect flat rectangle while preserving accuracy. Unlike traditional projections, the AuthaGraph realistically represents all oceans and continents, including Antarctica, which is often neglected.

The AuthaGraph map challenges us to rethink what we have accepted as "normal." Its innovative design can even be folded into a three-dimensional globe, offering a unique perspective that emphasizes accuracy over convention.

Additionally, we should critically examine our education systems and revise geography curricula to include discussions on how different map projections influence our worldview. Teaching students that maps are not just neutral representations but are laden with historical, political, and cultural meaning can foster a more nuanced understanding of the world.

A New Perspective for the Future

Maps are powerful tools that shape our understanding of the world, but they also reflect the biases of those who create them. The underrepresentation of Africa on traditional maps is a symptom of a larger issue—one of historical narratives being dominated by a select few. By revisiting how we draw our maps, we can begin to tell a more balanced story—one that recognizes the true size, diversity, and importance of all regions of the world.

It’s time for Africa to take its rightful place on the map, and for us all to rethink the systems that have shaped our perceptions for far too long. A more accurate representation of the continent not only honors its vastness but also its potential, rich resources, and global influence. We need to tell our stories, including our geography, size, resources, diversity, and genetic richness, and highlight how Africa can contribute to the world. As we move forward, let’s redraw the lines of geography to reflect a more equitable and informed global perspective.