As we stand at the nexus of accuracy and deception, the cartographic gaze reveals a world shaped by the very tools meant to represent it. The question resonates – can we trust the maps that purport to mirror reality? Maps, once considered objective representations of the world, are increasingly recognized as constructs laden with power dynamics, cultural biases, and historical context.
The distortions inherent in map-making have tangible consequences. They influence global perceptions, inform geopolitical decisions, and shape local identities. The map is not the territory, yet it profoundly shapes our understanding of it.
In this era of heightened awareness, we must confront the uncomfortable truth: maps are not neutral. They are instruments of narrative, capable of reinforcing or challenging dominant paradigms. As we navigate the complexities of a globalised world, it’s imperative to interrogate the maps we use, acknowledging their limitations and biases.
Can we develop cartographies that subvert traditional power structures, amplify marginalised voices, and reflect the world’s true complexities?
As you look around, spare a moment to ask:
How do cartographers’ choices of projection, scale, and symbolization shape our perceptions of the world? What are the implications of these distortions for issues like resource allocation, territorial disputes, and environmental sustainability? What can we do to challenge and subvert these distortions, to create more accurate, equitable, and just representations of our world?
This article embarks on a critical exploration of the distortion of mapping, seeking to uncover the power dynamics, assumptions, and biases that underlie the maps we use every day. By interrogating the taken-for-granted nature of mapping, we may uncover new possibilities for a more just and accurate representation of the world – and a more informed and engaged citizenry to navigate it.
THE PARADOX OF MAPPING
In the twilight of colonialism, a sinister cartographic manipulation was orchestrated. This shrunk Africa’s massive presence on the world map.
The distortion of Africa’s size during the colonial era was a deliberate cartographic manipulation, perpetuated by the widespread adoption of the Mercator projection.
The Crooked Pen of Gerardus Mercator
This projection, developed by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, was designed to facilitate navigation for European explorers and traders. Gerardus Mercator was a Flemish cartographer, geographer, and mathematician whose work had a profound impact on the field of navigation and mapmaking.
The Mercator Projections
The Mercator projection, a cylindrical map representation, changed navigation by enabling European mariners to plot straight-line courses, thereby facilitating exploration and trade.
The Mercator Projections were distorted and had significant cultural and geographical implications, contributing to a skewed understanding of the world’s layout.
Shrinking the Size of Africa
The Mercator Projection’s distortions have had profound implications for global perceptions, particularly regarding Africa.
By exaggerating landmasses near the poles and shrinking those near the Equator, this cartographic choice contributed to a narrative of African inferiority and insignificance. Africa, a continent encompassing approximately 30.37 million square kilometers, was misrepresented as being comparable in size to Europe or Greenland (around 10 million square kilometers), undermining its vast cultural, linguistic, and ecological diversity. Truth is that Africa is over 14 times bigger than Greenland. This makes it the second-largest continent on Earth, home to 54 countries, over 2,000 languages, and a staggering array of cultures, ecosystems, and histories.
This misrepresentation cannot be dismissed as a benign error. It served to perpetuate racist and colonialist ideologies, implying that Africa was a relatively small and insignificant continent, ripe for colonisation and exploitation. The consequences of such cartographic choices underscore the need to critically examine the maps we use and the narratives they perpetuate. The conversation around map-making is evolving, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and addressing these historical distortions.
Other Mercator Distortions
There are various other distortions precipitated by the Mercator inaccuracy.
One notable distortion of the Mercator projection is the inaccurate representation of Alaska’s size relative to Mexico or Brazil. Alaska is often depicted as larger than Mexico or Brazil, whereas the latter (individually) are actually significantly larger in terms of land area.
The representation of Russia on the Mercator map is notable for its exaggeration of the country’s land area. Russia appears comparable in size to Africa, whereas in reality, Africa’s land area is approximately 1.8 times larger than that of Russia. This distortion contributes to a skewed perception of the relative sizes of these geographical entities.
Antarctica is often omitted beyond recognition.
Colonial Era Mapping
The advent of colonialism married into the Scramble for Africa conference of 1884/5.
It brought about a profound transformation in the field of cartography, as European empires leveraged mapmaking as a tool for territorial expansion, resource extraction, and cultural domination. During this period, maps served as instruments of imperial power, enabling colonizers to assert their claims over vast territories, often at the expense of indigenous populations and their ancestral lands.
Mapping as a Tool to Justify Colonisation
This process of colonial-era mapmaking was characterized by a deliberate disregard for existing local knowledge and territorial claims.
European cartographers created maps that reflected their own interests, worldviews, and cultural biases, effectively erasing the complex spatial understandings and place-based identities of the colonized peoples. By doing so, they were able to justify the colonization, exploitation, and displacement of native populations, often under the guise of “civilization” or “progress.”
Myth of an Empty Continent
The notion of Africa as an “empty continent” was a pervasive and pernicious myth perpetuated by colonial powers to justify their occupation, exploitation, and colonization of the continent. This narrative, which gained traction during the Scramble for Africa, claimed that the continent was largely uninhabited, uncultivated, and waiting to be “discovered” and developed by Europeans.
In many discussions I’ve seen, I observed sadly some in the South African context cry foul because they believe the European colonialists found empty strips of land around the Cape, Midlands and northern parts of South Africa. This is wishful thinking.
In reality, Africa was home to thriving societies, complex civilizations, and sophisticated systems of governance, agriculture, and trade. The continent was inhabited by diverse populations, with rich cultural, linguistic, and spiritual traditions.
The myth of the “empty continent” was a deliberate construct, designed to erase the history and presence of indigenous peoples, and to justify their displacement, exploitation, and marginalization. By portraying Africa as a vast, uninhabited space, colonial powers could claim that they were bringing “civilization” and “progress” to a supposedly “savage” and “untouched” land. Who must “touch” it for it to be “touched”?
This narrative has been thoroughly debunked by historians, archaeologists, and anthropologists, who have documented the complex history and diversity of African societies. However, the legacy of this myth continues to influence perceptions of Africa and its people, perpetuating stereotypes and biases that have been used to justify ongoing exploitation and marginalization.
Making Europe the Centre of the World
The Mercator projection situates the prime meridian (which is 0° longitude) at Greenwich, effectively, positioning Europe at the centre of the world map. The designation of the Greenwich Meridian, situated in London, as the prime meridian (0° longitude) establishes the city as a global reference point for timekeeping (Greenwich Mean Time, GMT) and geographical coordinates. This distinction does not imply a geographical centrality. The Greenwich Meridian serves as a fundamental reference point, facilitating the measurement of longitude and the coordination of time zones worldwide. Its adoption in 1884 as the universal prime meridian solidified London’s position in global cartography and navigation.
This should not be confused with the equator, which is an imaginary line encircling the Earth at 0° latitude, dividing it into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The choice of Greenwich as the prime meridian has been noted as a reflection of European colonial and maritime dominance during the late 19th century. Critics argue it unfairly potentially skewing global perceptions. Consequently, this central placement can contribute to a Eurocentric perspective on global geography and affairs. This phenomenon is noteworthy as it shows the role of cartography in shaping perceptions of global importance and spatial relationships. The placement of Europe at the centre is not a geographical necessity, but rather a reflection of historical power dynamics.
Using Maps to Create a Eurocentric Africa
The maps created during this period were often imbued with a Eurocentric bias, prioritizing European interests and perspectives above all else. Indigenous lands and territories were frequently omitted, misrepresented, or redefined to suit colonial ambitions.
The primary focus was on identifying and exploiting natural resources, with little regard for the environmental or social impacts on local communities. Additionally, mapmaking served as a means of imposing European cultural norms, languages, and place-names on colonized territories, suppressing indigenous identities and traditions.
Erasure of Indigenous Territories
The omission, misrepresentation, and redefinition of indigenous lands and territories were pivotal components of colonial-era mapmaking, reflecting a broader strategy of territorial expansion and cultural domination. By ignoring or downplaying the existing territorial claims and spatial understandings of native populations, colonial powers effectively erased the presence and rights of indigenous peoples, paving the way for their own claims and ambitions.
This process of territorial erasure was characterized by a profound disregard for the complex spatial relationships and place-based identities of indigenous communities.
Colonial cartographers frequently disregarded or distorted the boundaries, names, and cultural significance of indigenous territories, imposing instead European-derived place-names, borders, and land-use categories. This cartographic violence not only facilitated the physical displacement of indigenous peoples but also contributed to the erasure of their cultural identities, histories, and knowledge systems.
Europeans Sharing African Wealth
A closer examination of the colonial era reveals a deliberate and systematic approach to securing coveted resources, often at the expense of indigenous populations and their territorial integrity.
Britain, a dominant player in the colonial game, strategically positioned itself to exploit Africa’s most prized resources. The occupation of Egypt, for instance, secured control over the Suez Canal, a vital trade route, and the country’s rich cotton production. South Africa, with its abundant gold and diamond deposits, became a key component of Britain’s resource portfolio. Nigeria, with its fertile land and emerging oil reserves, was another crucial acquisition, while Kenya’s fertile highlands made it an attractive location for British settlers. Companies like the British South Africa Company played a significant role in exploiting resources in regions like Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia), extracting gold, copper, and other minerals.
France, meanwhile, focused on establishing a vast West African empire, rich in gold, rubber, and cotton. Morocco’s phosphate deposits and Algeria’s oil and gas reserves further bolstered France’s resource base.
Germany, though a late participant to the colonial scene, managed to secure valuable territories in Tanganyika (Tanzania) and Cameroon, prized for their rubber and sisal production.
Belgium was not to be outdone. Congo Free State, a notorious example of colonial exploitation, fell under Belgian control, with King Leopold II extracting vast riches in rubber, ivory, and minerals.
Portugal, with its long-standing colonial presence, retained control over Angola and Mozambique, securing access to diamonds, oil, coal, and other valuable minerals.
Italy focused on Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, targeting resources like oil, agricultural land, and minerals.
Spain controlled parts of Morocco and Equatorial Guinea, accessing minerals and cocoa.
BOTTOM LINE OF DISTORTING MAPS
The impact of this legacy can be seen in the ways in which maps continue to shape our understanding of the world today. Many modern maps still reflect the colonial-era biases and power dynamics that prioritized European interests and perspectives.
Struggle for Land Rights
The erasure of indigenous knowledge and territorial claims has contributed to ongoing struggles for land rights, self-determination, and cultural preservation among indigenous communities worldwide.
The consequences of this erasure have been severe and far-reaching. The redefinition of indigenous territories has led to the loss of land, resources, and livelihoods, as well as the degradation of cultural heritage sites and sacred landscapes. Furthermore, the legacy of territorial erasure has contributed to ongoing struggles for land rights, self-determination, and cultural preservation among indigenous communities worldwide.
Influencing Common View of Reality
The legacy of colonial-era mapmaking continues to shape our understanding of the world, influencing everything from national borders to urban planning initiatives. As we move forward in the 21st century, it is essential to acknowledge and learn from this complex history, recognizing the power of maps to both reflect and shape our relationships with the places we inhabit.
Loss of Culture
The degradation of cultural heritage sites and sacred landscapes, resulting in cultural loss and spiritual disconnection.
The disruption of social and cultural systems, contributing to intergenerational trauma and community fragmentation.
Negative Stereotyping
The perpetuation of systemic racism and discrimination, reinforcing negative stereotypes and biases against indigenous peoples.
Territorial Erasure
The legacy of territorial erasure continues to shape the relationships between indigenous communities, governments, and the private sector, highlighting the need for redress, reconciliation, and recognition of indigenous rights. As we move forward, it is essential to acknowledge and learn from this complex history, recognizing the importance of indigenous spatial knowledge and the imperative of decolonizing cartography.
Eroding Culture and Communities
As colonial cartographers imposed artificial borders and territorial divisions, they disrupted the intricate social and cultural systems that had evolved over centuries. Traditional ways of life, governance, and knowledge transmission were severely impacted, leading to a breakdown in community cohesion and cultural identity. The imposition of European languages, laws, and institutions further eroded indigenous cultural practices, contributing to intergenerational trauma and community fragmentation.
Divide and Rule
In many cases, colonial powers created countries within countries, such as Lesotho and eSwatini, which were left surrounded by South Africa, or The Gambia, which is surrounded by Senegal. Tribes and families were divided, with borders splitting communities and forcing them to navigate complex relationships with newly imposed governments. This arbitrary division of land and people has contributed to ongoing conflicts, economic disparities, and social inequalities.
Ongoing Socio-Political Conflicts
This resource-driven partition of Africa has had far-reaching consequences, shaping the continent’s economic, social, and political landscape. The artificial borders and resource allocations imposed by colonial powers have contributed to ongoing conflicts, economic disparities, and social inequalities.
Economic Marginalization
This has led to Africa’s economic marginalization, with the continent often relegated to the periphery of global economic decision-making processes.
EQUAL EARTH MAP
The adoption of more accurate map projections, like the Equal Earth projections, can challenge traditional representations of Africa and promote a more equitable global narrative. By highlighting Africa’s true scale, resources, and significance, we can reshape global narratives and foster partnership over paternalism.
The Equal Earth projection, developed by Bojan Šavrič and his team in 2018, is a cutting-edge cartographic representation that balances accuracy and aesthetics. This equal-area projection provides a more realistic portrayal of the Earth’s surface, mitigating distortions inherent in traditional map projections like Mercator.
The Equal Earth projection preserves the relative size of landmasses, ensuring countries and continents are depicted in proportion to their actua. This makes it invaluable for applications like environmental studies, resource management, and global comparisons. Unlike Mercator, it minimizes distortion, particularly in polar regions, and maintains landmass shapes, making it visually appealing.
A significant improvement of the Equal Earth projection is its depiction of Africa. Unlike Mercator, which distorts Africa’s size, the Equal Earth projection accurately represents Africa as a vast continent, showcasing its true size and shape. This counters the historical narrative of Africa being smaller and less significant.
The Equal Earth projection is ideal for applications requiring precise size and shape data, and its visually appealing design makes it suitable for education and general-purpose mapping. It can be used for climate modeling, environmental studies, and global data visualization.
The projection’s equal-area representation makes it excellent for tracking environmental changes, and its intuitive design makes it a great tool for teaching geography and global studies. As cartographic technology evolves, the Equal Earth projection is poised to become a leading alternative to traditional map projections.
A correctly aligned map will prove reality to all. It will show that, for example, Africa is more than 3 times the size of Europe or South Africa is bigger than United kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Germany, and Portugal put together or that Africa is 20% of the party’s land area.
Accuracy in how the map is structured is extremely crucial to understanding our background, our status and where we want to go. Correcting our map is equivalent to correcting our history. All that Africans have always asked for is equality and this is nothing extraordinary – in simple terms Africans long for ACCURACY (in everything).
The African Union’s “Correct the Map” campaign is a crucial step towards cartographic liberation, acknowledging Africa’s size as a symbol of strength and resilience. It’s time to correct the map, challenge stereotypes, and acknowledge Africa’s true size and potential. The World Bank has woken up to these calls and Africa would be recognised for what it truly is.
They’ve tried to re-draw an African’s sphere of thoughts by creating imaginary boundaries (Scramble for Africa), retraced Africa using Mercator and now it is time that reality (through accuracy) must dawn.
Ndagathia! Asante!
Ndaa!!!!!