Yusuf Estes
The Mandinka were travelling to the America’s and building civilisations. Their cultural sharing of language and customs contributed to creating relationships and new communities. Statues of the first civilisations known as Olmec Heads dating back to 700BC that were found in South Mexico have West African features and are wearing Mandinka warrior helmets. Linguists have found words originating from the Mandinka language within Native American dialects showing there was a sustained relationship between the two peoples[5]. Archaeologists have discovered stones dating back as early as the 9th century engraved with Arabic words for ‘Muhammad, Jesus and Satan’ in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and California. Although some historians have disputed these claims, it is interesting to consider African Muslims have a history that predates the arrival of the transatlantic slave trade.
The Mandinka legacy also lives on in Brazil. Clyde Ahmad Winters, an anthropologist and historian writes that the Mandinka made Brazil their ‘staging area for the exploration of the New World’. Some have claimed it was possible that Abu Bakari II could have landed in Brazil. Abdullah Hakim Quick, a Muslim Historian suggests that there is evidence of Mandinka Muslims on inscriptions found in Bahia and Minas Gerais.
The Mandinka legacy also lives on in Brazil. Clyde Ahmad Winters, an anthropologist and historian writes that the Mandinka made Brazil their ‘staging area for the exploration of the New World’. Some have claimed it was possible that Abu Bakari II could have landed in Brazil. Abdullah Hakim Quick, a Muslim Historian suggests that there is evidence of Mandinka Muslims on inscriptions found in Bahia and Minas Gerais.
Some of the greatest successes of the Muslim World were home grown in Africa – The Empire of Mali is a perfect example. This Empire and its people shaped the world we live in today. An old African proverb says, ‘The world is old but the future springs from the past’. The Mandinka built civilisations and marked their presence all over the world. Their achievements commercially, economically and in scholarship amaze those who look into their great history. It’s vital that as Muslims we start to take pride in all our history – not just Arab Muslim history but the history of all Muslims that contributed to the development of Islam.
