Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow
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| Director-General UNESCO | |
| In office 1974–1987 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 March 1921 Dakar, French West Africa (now Senegal) |
| Died | 24 September 2024 (aged 103) |
| Education | Sorbonne University |
| Occupation | Politician, diplomat, educator |
Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow (born March 20, 1921 – died September 24, 2024) was an important person from Senegal. He was a civil servant and led a big international organization called UNESCO. He was the Director-General of UNESCO from 1974 to 1987.
M'Bow was born in Dakar, which is now in Senegal. He joined the French Army and fought in World War II in France and North Africa. After the war, he studied geography at Sorbonne University in Paris. He worked at UNESCO's main office in Paris for many years, from 1953 to 1987.
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Who Was Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow?
Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow started working for UNESCO in 1953. He became its Director-General in 1974. This was a very important moment. He was the first black African to lead a United Nations organization.
M'Bow's Vision for UNESCO
During his time as leader, M'Bow wanted to change how knowledge and information were shared. He believed that the world's cultures and experiences should be equally valued. He worked to move away from a "Eurocentric" view. This means he wanted to make sure that ideas and history from all parts of the world were seen as important, not just those from Europe.
He was also the President of the PanAfrican Archaeological Association. He held this role from 1967 to 1971.
Bringing Cultural Heritage Home
In 1978, M'Bow gave a famous speech. He asked for cultural treasures to be returned to the countries where they came from. Many valuable items had been taken from countries in the southern hemisphere. He believed these items should go back to their original homes.
This idea followed a resolution from 1973. However, his call did not lead to many items being returned right away.
Fair Communication for All
In May 1980, M'Bow created a special group. This group looked at problems with communication around the world. They created the "MacBride Report." This report supported the idea of a "New World Information and Communication Order."
This order aimed for fairer ways to share news and information globally. It wanted to make sure all countries had a voice.
Later Years and Retirement
M'Bow's time as Director-General ended in 1987. Some countries, like the United States in 1984 and the United Kingdom in 1985, left UNESCO. This was due to concerns about how the organization was managed and its budget.
In 1980, M'Bow received an honorary doctorate from the University of Belgrade. He also received one from Ghent University in February 1981. He moved back to his home country of Senegal in 1987. He celebrated his 100th birthday in March 2021.
Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow passed away on September 24, 2024. He was 103 years old.
Honours
Grand-Cross of the Order of Prince Henry, Portugal (April 6, 2017)
See also
In Spanish: Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow para niños
