AMADOU Mahtar M’Bow, the first African to lead UNESCO and a prominent advocate for global cultural equality, has died at the age of 103 in Dakar, Senegal.
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, hailed M’Bow as the first African to head an international organisation, serving as its sixth director-general from 1974 to 1987.
‘Amadou Mahtar M’Bow was a profound humanist and intellectual,’ said Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s current director-general. ‘He left an indelible mark on our institution by passionately defending solidarity and the equal dignity of all peoples and cultures.’
Azoulay particularly praised M’Bow for spearheading the monumental General History of Africa, a groundbreaking project that allowed Africans to reclaim their historical narrative and face the future with renewed confidence.
Political and educational legacy
Born in Dakar in 1921, M’Bow held key roles in Senegal’s post-independence government, serving as Minister for Education and later as Minister for Culture and Youth. In 1970, he was appointed UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education, before being elected director-general in 1974.
M’Bow’s tenure at UNESCO is most remembered for his leadership in advocating for the New World Information and Communication Order, a movement that sought to challenge Western media dominance in global news coverage and promote a more equitable international media landscape.
His contributions to education, culture, and the promotion of African history cemented his legacy as a global advocate for cultural dignity and intellectual equality.
