<h5>Africa Wants Better Maps</h5><p>For many years, world maps have shown Africa as smaller than it really is. Now, the African Union (AU) wants this to change. The goal is to show Africa’s true size so people can understand its importance.</p><h5>How the Problem Started</h5><p>The mistake comes from a map design called the Mercator projection, made in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator. It was good for sailors because it showed straight lines across the oceans.</p><p>But this map stretched areas near the top and bottom of the Earth and made areas near the middle look smaller. This meant that Europe, North America, and Greenland looked much bigger, while Africa, India, and South America looked much smaller.</p><p>On many classroom maps, Africa looks about the same size as Greenland. In reality, Africa is 14 times larger than Greenland.</p><h5>The Push for Fair Maps</h5><p>In April 2025, two African groups, Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, started the “Correct the Map” campaign. They want schools and countries to use maps like the Equal Earth projection, which shows the continents in their real size.</p><p>On August 14, 2025, the AU supported the campaign. The Caribbean Community and many teachers in the world also joined in.</p><h5>Why It Matters</h5><p>This fight is about more than maps. Africa is the second-largest continent, with 54 countries and over 1.4 billion people. But wrong maps have made people think Africa is smaller and less important. Historians say old maps also helped spread colonial ideas that made Europe seem more powerful.</p><p>Today, campaigners say fixing maps is about fairness and pride. As one leader explained, “Maps shape how we see the world, and how power is understood.”</p><h5>The Takeaway</h5><p>Maps are not just drawings. They affect how people think. For over 450 years, the Mercator map has made Africa look small. Now, the “Correct the Map” campaign wants children and adults to learn from fair maps like Equal Earth.</p>

For centuries, maps have shown Africa as smaller than it really is. The African Union now wants to change the maps to show Africa’s true size and importance.

Africa Wants Map to Show Its True SIze

Collect 300 Hootcoins!

Collect 150 Hootcoins!

Trump And Putin Meet in Alaska

The Effects of Tariffs on People and Countries

Radiation: A New Weapon Against Rhino Poaching

Africa Wants Map to Show Its True SIze

Collect 300 Hootcoins!

Collect 150 Hootcoins!

Did you read these articles?

Trump And Putin Meet in Alaska

The Effects of Tariffs on People and Countries

Radiation: A New Weapon Against Rhino Poaching