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"Human nature will not change. In any future great national trial, compared with the men of this, we shall have as weak and as strong, as silly and as wise, as bad and as good. Let us therefore study the incidents in this as philosophy to learn wisdom from and none of them as wrongs to be avenged." Abraham Lincoln (in the context of The American Civil War of 1861 to 1865)
In simplest term, history is defined as the study of the knowledge that deals with past events, and the essence of knowing one's history is to define and know who we are and what we stand for.
Sadly, the narration is different in Africa. I wouldn't say Africans don't study their history for the sake of hasty generalization, but Africans, the majority, are not aware of their history. And this is evident in our social and political ambient, and to the extent that some non-Africa see or think of the whole continent a country.
Another deficiency about Africa and history is that Africans don't really know each other. The major culprits here are the Nigerians. An average Nigerian know so much about the Europe and the America, but will come out a nonentity when the Guinea Conakry is the point of discussion.
The essence of knowing one's history is not just about the knowledge, but the value and love it brings to the mind.
People without knowledge of their past are doomed and underdeveloped. We all must know ourselves and our history. That's the first way out.
