Phase I of the GHA began with the UNESCO General Conference's authorization of the project during its thirteenth session in 1964. Shortly after, the International Council on Archives was contracted to produce a Guide to Sources of African History.
In 1970, the International Scientific Advisory Committee for the Drafting and Publication of a General History of Africa was established. Under the Committee, more than 230 historians and other specialists collaborated on the publication of the GHA. Between 1981 and 1993, the GHA published eight volumes on the General History of Africa, spanning Africa's prehistory through the late 20th century (a more detailed description of each volume can be found here). The Committee also published a 12-volume series titled "The General History of Africa: Studies and Documents" and an 8-volume series titled "Guide to the Sources of the History of Africa."
The eight General History of Africa volumes were published in English, French, Portuguese, and Arabic. Until 1999, the GHA worked on translating the series. Volumes I to IV were translated into Spanish, and Volume I was translated into Italian. In addition, abridged versions of Volumes I to VII were published in English, French, and Swahili; abridged versions of Volumes I and II were also published in Fulfulde and Hausa.
Phase I of the GHA ended in 1999.
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