The Top 10 Oldest Universities in Africa: Exploring Africa’s Rich Educational History

By Chila Andrew Aondofa

Let’s talk about the top 10 Oldest Universities in Africa: Africa has a rich and diverse educational history that spans many centuries. The continent has been home to some of the world’s oldest universities in the world, many of which have played a significant role in shaping the intellectual landscape of the world.

These universities were established long before the arrival of colonial powers and have a unique history and heritage. In this post, we will explore Africa’s educational legacy by taking a look at the top 10 oldest universities in Africa. We will delve into the history, legacy, and impact of each institution, highlighting their contributions to shaping the African continent and beyond.

From ancient times to modern times, Africa’s universities continue to be a beacon of knowledge and innovation, and this post celebrates that legacy. Join us as we take a journey through time to uncover the rich and fascinating history of the oldest universities in Africa.

Introduction to Africa’s educational history

Africa’s rich educational history is often overlooked and overshadowed by the more well-known institutions in other parts of the world. However, the continent has been home to some of the oldest universities in the world, contributing greatly to the advancement of knowledge and learning.

In this article, we will delve into Africa’s educational legacy and explore the top 10 oldest universities in Africa that have stood the test of time. These institutions have played a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s intellectual landscape and have served as centers of learning for centuries.

Education has long been a fundamental aspect of African societies, dating back to ancient civilizations. The pursuit of knowledge was highly valued, and educational institutions were established to cultivate scholars, philosophers, and leaders.

Africa’s educational history is a tapestry woven with diversity, with different regions and kingdoms each making their unique contributions. From the ancient city of Timbuktu in West Africa to the bustling centres of Alexandria and Cairo in North Africa, educational institutions flourished, attracting students and scholars from far and wide.

Through the ages, these universities became renowned centres of excellence, attracting not only African students but also individuals from other parts of the world. They offered a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, astronomy, medicine, theology, and philosophy, among others.

In this article, we will take a fascinating journey through time to explore the origins, legacies, and significance of the top 10 oldest universities in Africa. From the illustrious University of Al Quaraouiyine in Morocco, founded in 859 AD, to the venerable University of Cairo in Egypt, established in 970 AD, each institution has its unique story to tell.

Join us as we uncover the hidden gems of Africa’s educational past, shedding light on the remarkable achievements and contributions that these universities have made to academia, culture, and society as a whole. Through this exploration, we hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for Africa’s rich educational history and its enduring impact on the world of learning.

The significance of ancient African universities

The significance of ancient African universities cannot be overstated. It is a testament to the rich educational history of the continent and its contributions to intellectual development. These institutions were centres of knowledge and learning, attracting scholars and students from far and wide.

One of the most notable aspects of ancient African universities is their establishment pre-dating many renowned Western universities. While Europe was still in its early stages of development, Africa was already nurturing higher education institutions that laid the foundation for advanced learning.

These universities served as vital hubs for knowledge exchange and intellectual discourse. They offered a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, astronomy, medicine, law, and theology. Students were encouraged to engage in critical thinking and debate, fostering an environment that nurtured innovation and intellectual growth.

Moreover, these institutions played a significant role in shaping African society and culture. They were not only centres of education but also served as important social and cultural gathering places. They attracted scholars and intellectuals from different parts of Africa and beyond, creating a diverse and multicultural environment.

The significance of these ancient African universities extends beyond their historical context. They have left a lasting impact on the modern educational landscape and continue to inspire educators, researchers, and scholars today. By honouring and exploring their legacy, we gain a deeper understanding of Africa’s rich intellectual heritage and the immense contributions it has made to the world of education.

List of 20 Oldest Universities In Africa and Their Year of Establishment

Let’s delve into Africa’s educational legacy and explore the oldest universities in Africa that have stood the test of time. These institutions have played a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s intellectual landscape and have served as centers of learning for centuries. Below is a list of some of the oldest Universities in Africa.

University of Timbuktu, Mali (982CE)

The University of Timbuktu is a collective term for the teaching associated with three mosques in the city of Timbuktu in what is now Mali: the mosques of Sankore, Djinguereber, and Sidi Yahya. It was an organized scholastic community that endured for many centuries during the medieval period.

The university contributed to the modern understanding of Islamic and academic studies in West Africa during the medieval period and produced several scholars and manuscripts taught under the Maliki school of thought.

University of Al-Karaouine, in Fes, Morocco (859AD)

Fatima al-Fihri (the child of a rich businessman named Mohammed Al-Fihri) founded the University of Al-Karaouine or Al-Qarawiyyin in 1859, along with a madrasa. It is Africa’s first university. It is among the Muslim world’s most important spiritual and educational hubs, and it is the world’s oldest continually running institution of higher learning.

The University of Al-Karaouine is the world’s oldest continually operational, degree-granting university, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Leo Africanus, Muhammad al-Idrisi (a geographer), and Maimonides, a Jewish philosopher, are among the university’s noteworthy graduates.

Al-Azhar University, Egypt (972AD)

The University of Al-Azhar” is Egypt’s oldest degree-granting university and is known as “Sunni Islam’s most distinguished university.” It is affiliated with the Al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo. By October 975 AD, studies at Al-Azhar had begun in Ramadan, when Chief Justice Abul Hasan Ali ibn Al-No’man began teaching the Shiite jurisprudence text “Al-Ikhtisar.”

The Fatimids established it as a centre of Islamic study in 970 or 972, and its pupils studied the Qur’an and Islamic law in depth, as well as logic, grammar, rhetoric, and how to calculate lunar phases.

Fourah Bay College – University of Sierra Leone (1827)

In Freetown, Sierra Leone, Fourah Bay College is a public university in the Mount Aureol district. It is the earliest and first Western-style university in West Africa, having been established on February 18, 1827.

It was also the first Western-style institution to be erected in the region. It is among the University of Sierra Leone’s constituent colleges. Several significant Sierra Leone leaders have attended the university, as well as numerous Ghanaians who played key roles in the country’s independence (Kojo Botsio, Casely Hayford).

University of Cape Town (1829)

The Institution of Cape Town (UCT) is a public research university in Cape Town, South Africa’s Western Cape region. Together with Stellenbosch University, which was granted full university status on the same day in 1918, it is the oldest institution in South Africa. It is also the oldest existent university in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In the QS World Institution Rankings, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and the Academic Ranking of World Universities, UCT is the highest-ranked African university, and its Law and Commerce faculties are routinely rated among the top hundred in the world.

University of Ez-Zitouna

Ez-Zitouna University is a public ancient medieval university in Tunis, Tunisia. The university originates in the Al-Zaytuna Mosque, founded at the end of the 7th century or in the early 8th century, which developed into a major Islamic centre of learning in North Africa.

It consists of the Higher Institute of Theology and the Higher Institute of Islamic Civilisation in Tunis and a research institution, the Center of Islamic Studies, in Kairouan.

University of Liberia (1862)

The University of Liberia is a publicly funded institution of higher learning located in Monrovia, Liberia. Authorized by the national government in 1851, the university opened in 1862 as Liberia College. UL has four campuses; including the Capitol Hill Campus in Monrovia, the Fendall campus in Louisiana, outside Monrovia, the Medical School Campus in Congo Town and the Straz-Sinje Campus located in Sinje Grand Cape Mount County.

The university enrols approximately 18,000 students and is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in West Africa. It is accredited by the Liberian Commission on Higher Education.

University of Sankore, Mali

The University of Sankoré is one of three ancient centres of learning located in Timbuktu, Mali. It is believed to have been established by Mansa Musa, who was the ruler of the Mali Empire, though the Sankoré mosque itself was founded by an unknown Malinke patron.

The three mosques of Sankoré: Sankoré, Djinguereber, and Sidi Yahya comprise the University of Timbuktu. The madrasa went through multiple periods of patronage and renovation under both the Mali Empire and the Songhai Empire until the Battle of Tondibi in 1591 led to its looting.

Stellenbosch University, South Africa (1903)

Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in Stellenbosch, a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Stellenbosch is the oldest university in South Africa and the oldest extant university in Sub-Saharan Africa, together with the University of Cape Town – which received full university status on the same day in 1918.

Stellenbosch University designed and manufactured Africa’s first microsatellite, SUNSAT, launched in 1999. It was also the first African university to sign the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities.

Cairo University Egypt (1908)

Egypt’s Cairo University was established on December 21, 1908. Previously, it was known as “Egyptian University” and then “Fuad University.” In contrast to the religious institution of Al Azhar, Cairo University was formed as a European-inspired civil university, and it became the primary indigenous model for other state universities.

Cairo University is consistently regarded as one of Egypt’s best universities and one of Africa’s best institutions. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Saddam Hussein, Mohamed Morsi, Naguib Mahfouz (Nobel Peace Prize winner), Yasser Arafat (Nobel Peace Prize winner), Mohamed ElBaradei (Nobel Peace Prize winner), and Taher Elgamal, the designer of the ElGamal encryption system and known as the “Father of SSL,” are all notable alumni of Cairo University.

University of Algiers, Algeria (1909)

The University of Algiers sprang from many higher-education institutions established in Algeria’s first university during French colonial control in the nineteenth century. It is known as Mother University and is located in Algiers, Algeria’s capital.

Albert Camus, Elias Zerhouni, and Lakhdar Brahimi are among the University of Algiers’ prominent graduates.

University of Fort Hare, South Africa (1916)

The University of Fort Hare is a public university in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was a key institution of higher education for Africans from 1916 to 1959 when it offered a Western-style academic education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa, creating an African elite.

In 1959, the university was subsumed by the apartheid system, but it is now part of South Africa’s post-apartheid public higher education system. It is the alma mater of well-known people including Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Robert Sobukwe, Oliver Tambo, and others.

University of Khartoum

The University of Khartoum is a public university located in Khartoum, Sudan. It is the largest and oldest university in Sudan. UofK was founded as Gordon Memorial College in 1902 and established in 1956 when Sudan gained independence.

Since that date, the University of Khartoum has been recognized as a top university and a high-ranked academic institution in Sudan and Africa.

Makerere University in Uganda (1922)

Makerere University, Kampala, was founded in 1922 as a technical school and is Uganda’s largest university. It was renamed the University of East Africa in 1963, and it began providing courses leading to the University of London’s general degrees.

When the University of East Africa was separated into three autonomous institutions in 1970, the University of Nairobi (Kenya), the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), and Makerere University, it became an independent national university.

University of Ghana (1948)

The University of Ghana is the first and largest of Ghana’s several public institutions, having been granted full university status in 1961 and today enrolling almost 40,000 students.

It was formerly an affiliate of the University of London, which oversaw its academic programs and conferred degrees and was formed in 1948 in the British colony of the Gold Coast as the University College of the Gold Coast.

Conclusion: Celebrating Africa’s rich educational heritage

In conclusion, Africa’s rich educational heritage is something that should be celebrated and recognized. Throughout history, the continent has been home to several esteemed institutions of higher learning, some of which still exist today. These universities have not only contributed to the intellectual and cultural development of Africa but have also had a significant impact on the global educational landscape.

From the University of Al Quaraouiyine in Morocco, founded in 859 AD, to the University of Cairo in Egypt, established in 970 AD, and the University of Timbuktu in Mali, dating back to the 14th century, Africa’s oldest universities have stood the test of time.

These institutions have served as centres of knowledge, fostering learning, research, and the exchange of ideas among scholars from Africa and beyond. They have played a vital role in preserving and promoting African history, languages, and traditions, while also embracing advancements in various fields of study.

By highlighting the longevity and significance of these universities, we not only pay tribute to Africa’s educational pioneers but also inspire a deeper appreciation for the continent’s intellectual contributions throughout the ages. We encourage further exploration and research into Africa’s educational history to gain a better understanding of the diverse and vibrant academic traditions that have shaped the continent.

As we celebrate Africa’s rich educational heritage, it is essential to continue supporting and investing in the growth of higher education institutions across the continent. By doing so, we can ensure that future generations have access to quality education, opportunities for intellectual growth, and the ability to contribute to Africa’s ongoing legacy of educational excellence.

Let us embrace and celebrate the remarkable achievements of Africa’s oldest universities, and let them serve as a reminder of the immense potential and talent that continues to thrive within the continent’s educational institutions. Together, we can build a brighter future for Africa and its continuing contributions to the global academic community.

We hope you enjoyed our exploration of Africa’s rich educational history and the top 10 oldest universities on the continent.