Is it Time to Redraw the Map of Africa?

For generations, students, leaders, and media audiences around the globe have gazed at maps that lie—maps that diminish Africa’s size and, along with it, its place in the world. But a new campaign is set to change that. A bold initiative titled “Correct the Map” has been launched by advocacy organizations Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, with the goal of replacing the outdated Mercator map with the more accurate Equal Earth projection. The campaign is calling on global institutions like the United Nations, BBC, and World Bank to join a growing chorus demanding geographical justice for Africa.

At the heart of this campaign is a simple but powerful truth: Africa is massive – covering 30.37 million square kilometers, enough to accommodate the United States, China, India, and most of Europe combined. Yet the Mercator projection, first developed in the 16th century for sea navigation, has long misrepresented the true size of continents, dramatically shrunk Africa while inflating the Global North.

“Geography has history. Africa’s misrepresentation on world maps is not just a cartographic error—it’s a narrative issue,” said Moky Makura, Executive Director of Africa No Filter. “By reducing the size of Africa, we are subconsciously downplaying its importance. It’s time we took a stand.”

Injustice for Africa

Indeed, the implications go far beyond mere aesthetics or academic nitpicking. The warped projection has fueled a psychological and political underestimation of Africa’s role on the global stage—impacting diplomacy, development aid, investment decisions, and international education.

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Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa, emphasized: “Decisions about Africa—economic, political, and developmental—are being made using a false reference point. We need the world to see Africa as it truly is.”

The Correct the Map campaign is not just symbolic—it’s actionable. Organizers are encouraging individuals, educators, institutions, and media platforms to sign a global petition and commit to using maps that reflect geographical reality. The campaign also includes a charter inviting international organizations to make the switch to more equitable and fact-based visual tools.

As part of the movement, the campaign is pushing for widespread adoption of the Equal Earth projection, a map that more accurately depicts landmasses based on their true proportions. The Equal Earth map preserves the beauty of global geography while correcting the size biases of the Mercator map.

The campaign could not come at a more critical time, as African countries assert their leadership on issues from climate change to digital innovation. With a booming youth population, abundant natural resources, and growing geopolitical influence, Africa is poised to reshape the global order—but only if the world sees it clearly.

“This isn’t just about maps,” said campaign supporter and geography teacher Julius Karanja in Nairobi. “It’s about identity, empowerment, and respect. When my students see an accurate map, they see an accurate reflection of themselves and their continent.”

Changing the narrative

The distortion of Africa’s size on maps has long been criticized by geographers and educators. Yet, the Mercator projection remains dominant in many school textbooks, newsrooms, and government briefings—serving as a quiet but powerful tool in perpetuating the myth of Africa’s smallness.

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Changing the map, advocates argue, is a crucial step in changing the narrative—from one of underestimation to one of pride, potential, and parity.

The Correct the Map campaign is now gathering signatures at change.org/CorrectTheMap and spreading awareness through its online platform, www.correctthemap.org. Supporters are also encouraged to follow the conversation on social media. 

As the world rethinks colonial legacies and calls for justice grow louder, correcting the map may seem like a small gesture—but it’s one with profound ripple effects. By redrawing the world more truthfully, we redraw the way we think about power, potential, and place.

It’s time for Africa to take its rightful place—not only on the map, but in the minds of all who look at it.

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