Originally planned as a fact-based book on the pre-colonial history of the Eastern Cape in the true tradition of history, this ground-breaking book focuses on epistemological and foundational questions about the writing of history and whose history counts. Whose History Counts challenges the very concept of "pre-colonial" and explores methodologies on researching and writing history.

The reason for this dramatic change of focus is attributed in the introduction of the book to the student-led rebellion that erupted following the #RhodesMustFall campaign which started at the University of Cape Town on 9 March 2015. Key to the rebellion was the students' opposition to what they dubbed "colonial" education and a clamour for, among others, a "decolonised curriculum". This book is a direct response to this clarion call.