Centering African voices matters because Africans should have the opportunity to tell their own stories and represent their own experiences. As Komla Dumor emphasizes, African experts understand their communities, cultures, and histories in ways outsiders may not. Including African novels, art, films, and commentary helps challenge stereotypes and shows the diversity of life across the continent.

When teaching about Africa, using more African-created sources can provide students with a more authentic and balanced perspective. It also recognizes Africans as experts in their own realities rather than relying mainly on outsiders to define them.