THE YEAR 1492 IN AFRICA, A SIGNIFICANT YEAR?

 

      The year 1492 is of immense importance to the Western world because that was when Christopher Columbus sailed the Atlantic Ocean landing in the New World. Since this year is so significant, let's discuss what was happening in Africa around that time. 

           First of all, Christopher Columbus was not the first man to sail the Atlantic Ocean, other people were said to have sailed the Atlantic, but this is rarely discussed. It is said that an African King of the Mali Empire named Abu Bakari Keita II sailed the Atlantic Ocean a century before Columbus. This fact was well-documented by Mansa Musa. An Arab Egyptian Scholar named al Umari spoke to Mansa Musa about how he ascended the throne. al Umari wrote, "The ruler who preceded me did not believe that it was impossible to reach the extremity of the Ocean that encircles the earth (Atlantic Ocean) he wanted to reach that end and was determined to pursue his plan. So he equipped 200 boats full of men and many others with water, gold and provisions, sufficient for several years. He ordered the captain not to return until he had reached the other end of the Ocean or until he had exhausted the provisions and water. So they set out on their Journey. They were absent for a long period and at last just one boat returned. When questioned the Captain replied, "O Prince we navigated for a long period until we saw amid the Ocean a great river which flowed massively. My boat was the last one others were ahead of me, and they were drowned in the great whirlpool and never came out again. I sailed back to escape this current. But the Sultan will not believe him. He ordered 2000 boats to be equipped for him and his men and one thousand more for water and provisions. Then he conferred the regency on me for the term of his absence and departed with his men never to return or show any sign of life. In this manner, I became the Sole ruler of the Empire." It is said that Christopher Columbus was inspired to take his third voyage because he heard rumours of Africans sailing the Atlantic. According to Christopher Columbus's logbook. Bartolome de las Casas sailed with Christopher Columbus on his third voyage. The purpose of Columbus's third voyage was to verify the claims of King John II of Portugal that Canoes had been found. Bartolome de las Casas wrote, "Canoes had been found which set out from the Coast of Guinea (West Africa) and sailed to the West with merchandise". As well as corroborate the claims of native inhabitants of the Caribbean Islands of Hispaniola that from the South have come black people. Bartolome de las Casas also wrote, "From the South and South East had come black people whose spears were made of a metal called guanin..... From which it was found that of 32 parts: 18 were gold, 6 were silver and 8 copper."  Columbus and the people of the Iberian Peninsula of Portugal and Spain were very familiar with African people, it is said that the reason Christopher Columbus was able to sail to the Americas in 1492 was because the Espanol had just taken back Spain from the Moors after more than 700 years of North Africa subjection. Christopher Columbus knew that the Moors were skilled in navigation, so he took with him a moor named Pedro Alonso Nino who was the navigator of Columbus's first and third journeys.

       In 1492 significant events took place in Africa as a continent. In West Africa, the Empire of Songhai was in its inception. The founder of the Songhai Empire Sunni Ali died in 1492 but during his regime, he dismounted the Mali Empire, which made him the greatest conquering King West Africa had ever seen. Sunni was said to be the most powerful warrior King and he had more soldiers than any of his predecessors. In his exploration, he subdued many lands and became dreaded among his enemies. Tarikh al-Fattassh written by an African Scholar wrote, " Chi Ali (Sunni Ali) was always victorious and destroyed all the countries that he chose. None of his armies in his presence were defeated, always the Conqueror never the defeated." Also in West Africa was the Empire of Benin, In 1492 Benin was ruled by Oba Ozolua. He transformed Benin from a fairly large kingdom into an Empire. Oral history accounts that he fought more than 200 battles. Oba Ozolua was a son of the Legendary King Oba Ewaure the great of Benin and because of his accomplishments, he became a very important Oba in the history of the Benin Empire.

    In Central Africa, 1492 for the Kanem Empire was a crucial moment. Years earlier the Kanem were defeated by the Bulala and their capital Njimi was taken over. In 1484, the ruler of Kanem Mai Ali Ghaji built a new capital in Borno Northern Nigeria called Ngazargamu, due to this interaction a new ethnic group was created called the Kanuri, the creation of a new base for the revival of the Kanem Empire. In 1492 Mai Ali Ghaji began conquering territories to restore their homeland and in 1497 Mai Ali Ghaji developed his Borno empire that he was able to reclaim the ancestral capital of Njimi.  Also, In Central Africa in 1492, Kongo was just being introduced to Christianity by scheming reasons of the Portuguese. King Nzinga Nkuwu  sent his ambassador to Portugal to request priests, carpenters and stone masons to build a house of prayer, he also sent Congolese nobles and children to learn Portuguese and become Christian. In 1491, King Nzinga Nkuwu of Kongo was baptised and officially accepted Christianity. He is said to have sat on a throne carved of ivory and wood which was placed on a high platform and he also wore a tall crown called mpu. The real reason for his conversion was expressed by Alan, "it was only then that the Portuguese learnt the real reason for the quick conversion. The kingdom was on the point of civil war. Several people were rebelling against the central power and the mwenecongo was about to help his son Afonso put down the revolt. Naturally, he wanted Portuguese aid. One must try to imagine the Portuguese at this moment. There were not many of them by comparison with their black hosts, they had come to this remote place to proselytize and begin a trading organisation and within a few weeks of their arrival, they were being asked to take part in a war which did not concern them in the least. But the request came from a brother in Christ and it was not possible to refuse. So a black army marched out to the Central African field of battle under the banner of the cross, accompanied by several white mercenaries carrying muskets. It is hardly surprising that they won the day and returned to the Capital in triumph. In gratitude, the mwenecongo settled the Portuguese in one section of the town not too far from his palace and the two races lived in such amity that doors, it is said, were never closed and there was no need for guards. The co-existence had begun". The actions of the King in incorporating the Portuguese into the Kongolese society had a dire impact. His son who became a true convert to Christianity thought of the Portuguese as his Christian brothers while they subtly did not think of him and the Kongolese as such. The Portuguese wanted to control Kongo and exhaust it of its resources. 

        In Southern Africa around 1492, the Mwenemutapa Empire existed. The founder of Mwenemutapa had a son named Matope who improved Mutapa into an Empire during his time. King Mwene Matope became very wealthy by exploiting copper and ivory. A Portuguese historian named Anthony wrote that "The Emperor shows great charity to the blind and maimed for these are called the King's poor and have land and revenue for their subsistence, and when they wish to pass through the Kingdoms, wherever they come food and drinks are given to them at the public cost as long as they remain there, and when they leave that place to go to another, they are provided with what is necessary for their journey and a guide and someone to carry their wallet to the next village. In every place where they come in the same obligation, under penalty that those who fail therein shall be punished by the King."

 

        In East Africa and Ethiopia, the year 1492 was during the reign of Emperor Negus Eskender a prominent Christian King. During his time, raids and counter-raids heightened between the Ethiopian Christians and Muslim powers. There was a tussle over which religion would dominate Ethiopia. It was said that Emperor Eskender was of a bold disposition and was an expert horseman. He was also skilled in the use of a bow, shield and spear and at the same time, he was gracious, compassionate and merciful. In 1491, one of the delegates sent by King John II of Portugal arrived at the court of King Eskender where the King received him with great honour. Eskender was said to have made him his confidant and counsellor and found him so invaluable that he would not allow him to depart. According to some sources King Eskender was murdered in 1492 but his death was hidden by the Queen and her advisers for about three years. Eskender was succeeded by his son who was only seven years old when he ascended the throne, he died before the end of 1494.