Before Christopher Columbus, Africans arrived in the Americas. A full two centuries prior to Christopher Columbus “discovering” the Americas, evidence suggests that West Africans had already traveled over the Atlantic to reach the New World.
Okay, let’s take a step back and discuss the definition of “discovery” alone. The act or process of discovering someone or something or learning about something previously unknown, is what the term means, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The argument is that, contrary to what most people assume, the existence of Black people in America may not have originated with slavery.
The second ruler of the ancient West African country of Mali is Mansa Abu Bakar II. An intelligent man, Mansa Abu Bakar wanted to explore what was beyond the Atlantic Ocean. In 1311, he sent a contingent of soldiers armed with abundant food and supplies to explore the ocean’s boundaries on board two hundred ships. He said that nothing must be returned to them until they discover what is beyond the Atlantic Ocean.
According to legend, when asked what occurred, the captain of the lone ship stated, “We went for a long time, and there arose in the open sea a river with a violent stream.” Thus, the legend goes. Upon reaching that location, the other ships continued forward without returning or being seen again.
Thus, King Abu Bakari II entrusted the crown to his brother, Mansa Musa and set off on an exploration of his own. He stocked the ships with food, water, animals, gold, and other goods and assembled two thousand ships.
Since they didn’t return, we must wonder whether they made it to the Americas. The answer seems to be yes, based on the data that contemporary historians, archaeologists, and scholars are uncovering.
This is part of our new series, “Hidden Black History,” where we highlight uncommon facts throughout Black history. Join us every day during Black History Month for interesting facts about Black people and places you likely haven’t heard before!
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