
African advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, with the African Union’s backing, have launched “Correct the Map,” a drive to replace the widely used Mercator projection with the Equal Earth map in schools, media and public institutions.
Campaigners say Mercator—created in 1569 to aid navigation—grossly enlarges higher-latitude regions while minimizing equatorial ones, making Africa appear far smaller than it is. Equal Earth, introduced in 2018, preserves relative landmass areas while keeping familiar shapes, they argue.
“This isn’t just about cartography; it’s about narrative, pride and identity,” said Africa No Filter executive director Moky Makura, who urged broadcasters, tech firms and international bodies to adopt Equal Earth. The AU’s endorsement last month signals a continent-wide push, she said.
The initiative frames map choice as part of a broader effort to counter stereotypes that, campaigners say, influence investment and policy. A June 2025 study by Africa No Filter and the University of Bath found negative depictions make UK and US consumers less likely to buy African products. Advocates also spotlight Africa’s often-overlooked contributions, citing the world’s oldest continuously operating university, Al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco, founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri.
Organisers are circulating petitions to education ministries, newsrooms and platforms such as the BBC and UN, arguing that normalising Equal Earth in classrooms and products is key to “changing mindsets.”