Before Columbus: Africans in America

In 1498, Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) took a third voyage from Spain to the Americas to further extract wealth. Looking for new routes to Asia from Europe, and in search of silk and spices, among other goods, his first sailing attempt in 1492 had brought him to the Americas. Scholars wrongfully described his findings as 'discoveries,' as people had established civilisations in the Americas long before his arrival.

In this 1997 clip, Afro-Guyanese scholar Ivan Van Sertima (1935-2009) provided examples of Africans reaching the Americas before Columbus.

His evidence for this, is Columbus' own admission, as noted by Spanish clergyman and writer Bartolomé de Las Casas' writings recounting his 1498 voyage with Columbus, that 'there had come to Española from the south and south-east, a Black people who have the tops of their spears made of a metal which they call guanin, of which he [Columbus] had sent samples to the Sovereigns to have them assayed, when it was found that of 32 parts, 18 were of gold, six of silver and eight of copper.'

Here, Sertima elaborates on how the names these Black people used for their spears can be linked to sounds from West Africa.

Why do you think Christopher Columbus is still credited with the 'discovery' of the Americas?

Video credit: TVO (@wearetvo on IG, @tvo on X)