Pre-colonial African Glory: Global Interconnectedness

One of the most significant achievements that challenges common stereotypes is the success of Mansa Musa in the kingdom of Mali. It is said that he was known to be the richest man in the world with a net worth of 400 billion, so move over Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffet and Elon Musk. The fact that Malian sailors got to America in 1311 AD 181 years before Columbus refutes the narrative that the African American presence in the North American and South American continent started with the Transatlantic Slave Trade. It is important to highlight this aspect of African history because it further proves that Africa was very advance in terms of civilization. There is no story of the Malians coming over here killing and conquering the Native Americans which shows our civility and our ability to coexist amongst other groups of people. We the diaspora embody the spirit of diplomacy. The National Geographic described Timbuktu as the Paris of the Medieval world, on account of its intellectual culture, According the Dr. Henry Louis Gates 25,000 university students studied there. The first world’s first encyclopedia was created in Mali in the 14th century before the Europeans got the idea 4 centuries later. The reading materials also highlighted the fact that Bling culture existed in early Tanzania. A Portuguese chronicler of the sixteenth century wrote that ” They are finely clad in many rich garments of gold and silk and cotton, and the women as well; also with much gold and silver chains and bracelets, which they wear on their legs and arms, and many jeweled earrings in their ears.” It is also said that the ruined Mosque in the ruined Kenyan city of Gedi had water purifier made of limestone for recycling water. All of this newfound knowledge demonstrates Africa’s influence and interconnectedness with the rest of the world. Now I see why they call this area the New World, it’s clear that Africa was the First World and these readings provided evidence that Africa was never a Third World thus reshaping my understanding of Africa’s role in global history. The world owes Africa a tremendous amount of gratitude. Once again I’ve come to the conclusion that Africa has suffered many ills because of jealousy and envy and the settler mentality that was written about in the book titled The Wretched of the Earth continues to be a threat to Africa and the Diaspora.