Abubakari II Mansa (African king who Arrived America before Columbus)

Abubakari II Mansa (African king who Arrived America before Columbus)

Abubakari II, Mansa (King) of the Mali Empire in the 14th century, led Malian sailors to the America(s), specifically present-day Brazil, almost 200 years before Columbus arrived. He ruled what was arguably the richest and largest empire on earth, covering nearly all West Africa.

Abubakari wanted to find out whether the Atlantic Ocean- like the great River Niger that swept through the Mali Empire had another bank, he had travelled extensively throughout and outside the African continent. Already owing most of the continent, His predecessor and Uncle Soundjata Keita, had already founded the Mali empire and conquered a good stretch of the Sahara desert and a great forest along the West African coast.

African-Guyanese historian Ivan Van Sertima, writing on the testimony of Emperor Kanku Musa recorded by the Arab Ibn Amir Hajib and transcribed by Al Omari in the 14th century in Egypt during the pilgrimage of Musa Explained:

""lured by exploration, Abubakari II called engineers from the lake Chad who were known to build ships just like their Egyptians (kemetic) ancestors and to studied every ship on the Rivers Djoliba (Niger) and Senegal to help him launch a massive fleet on the Aethopian (Atlantic) Ocean. He also hired a large and diverse crews, sailors, traders, builders, artist warriors and learned men and he supplied them with large rations lasting two years. The fleet went across the western ocean relying on the unique system of drum 🥁 communication".

Abubakari II handed his throne to his brother, Kankou Moussa, and set off on an expedition into the unknown in 1311.
“The emperor gave up all power and gold to pursue knowledge and discovery,”
His brother, Kankou Moussa (Mansa Musa) would become the richest man in all of history.

On Abubakari II’s arrival in Brazil...
"He decides that he will journey across the ocean to rule this new land he called "Boure Bambouk", after the riches goldfields of the Mali Empire. The third year in the fledgling colony of Boure Bambouk, the first under the direction of Abubakari II, sees its highs and lows. Abubakari establishes the first diplomatic contacts with the curious Tupi tribes of the region, encouraging trade with them.

Through this trade, the colonists of Boure Bambouk are first acquainted with New World crops, including corn, beans, peanuts, tobacco, cotton, and tropical fruits. Such agricultural commodities will allow the colony to become self-sustaining. Likewise, Old World livestock, such as cattle, sheep, and guinea fowl, are first introduced to the Tupi, as are cereal grains like rice, millet, and sorghum.

In 1314, Abubakari sends a boat back to Mali to petition his brother for more support. Mansa Musa is impressed by the new crops presented to him, and garners more settlers and aid to send to Boure Bambouk. Thus begins a back-and-forth exchange of Bamboukian goods in return for Malian assistance. Agriculture of corn, beans, peanuts, peppers, and cotton will set off a population explosion in Mali, that will provide future settlers from across the sea.”

Beyond Columbus, evidence of African contributions to American civilization includes “importing the art of pyramid building, political systems and religious practices as well as mathematics, writing and a sophisticated calendar”.

Van Sertima cites the Aztec divinity Quetzalcoatl who is sometimes represented in Mexico as a Black man with a beard, dressed in white, who arrived in 6 cycles after the last man who came from the foreign lands.

Others also say the presence of stones heads with ‘African features’ of the ancient Olmec Civilization in South America, prior to the Aztecs and Mayans, is even more proof.

Mant mounting evidence suggest that African presence in the Americas before Columbus, it may be fair to say that Africa’s relationship with the Americas did not start with slavery. But with sailors, explorers, and kings.