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In 1311, he handed the throne over to his the content of external
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BBC News | AFRICA | Africa's 'greatest explorer' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1068950.stm

The book also focuses on a research project Madagascar return

being carried out in Mali tracing Abubakari's Nigerian woman fights
journeys. stoning
Opposition attacks Ivory
Coast poll
"We are not saying that Abubakari II was the
African Union replaces
first ever to cross the ocean," says Tiemoko dictators' club
Konate, who heads the project
Links to more Africa
"There is evidence that the Vikings were in stories are at the foot of
America long before him, as well as the the page.
Chinese," he said.

The researchers claim

that Abubakari's fleet
of pirogues, loaded
with men and women,
livestock, food and
drinking water,
departed from what is
the coast of present-
day Gambia.

They are gathering

evidence that in 1312 Most Griots are beginning
to divulge Abubakari's
Abubakari II landed on
secrets
the coast of Brazil in
the place known today as Recife.

"Its other name is Purnanbuco, which we

believe is an aberration of the Mande name for
the rich gold fields that accounted for much of
the wealth of the Mali Empire, Boure
Bambouk."

Another researcher, Khadidjah Djire says they

have found written accounts of Abubakari's
expedition in Egypt, in a book written by Al
Omari in the 14th century.

"Our aim is to bring out hidden parts of

history", she says.

Black traders

Mr Konate says they are also examining reports

by Columbus, himself, who said he found black
traders already present in the Americas.

They also cite chemical analyses of the gold

tips that Columbus found on spears in the
Americas, which show that the gold probably
came from West Africa.

But the scholars say the best sources of

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BBC News | AFRICA | Africa's 'greatest explorer' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1068950.stm

information on
Abubakari II are Griots
- the original historians
in Africa.

Mr Diawara says the

paradox of Abubakari
II, is that the Griots
themselves imposed a
seal of silence on the
story.
Mali was a gold kingdom,
but most families live in
"The Griots found his
poverty
abdication a shameful
act, not worthy of praise," Mr Diawara said.

"For that reason they have refused to sing

praise or talk of this great African man."

Mr Diawara says the Griots in West Africa such

as Sadio Diabate, are slowly starting to divulge
the secrets on Abubakari II.

'Hard-nosed historians'

But the research team says an even bigger

challenge is to convince hard-nosed historians
elsewhere that oral history can be just as
accurate as written records.

Mr Diawara believes Abubakari's saga has an

important moral lesson for leaders of small
nation states in West Africa, which were once
part of the vast Mande-speaking empire.

"Look at what's going on in all the remnants of

that empire, in Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone,
Liberia, Guinea.

"Politicians are bathing their countries in blood,

setting them on fire just so that they can cling
to power," says Mr Diawara.

"They should take an example from Abubakari

II. He was a far more powerful man than any of
them. And he was willing to give it all up in the
name of science and discovery."

"That should be a lesson for everyone in Africa

today," concludes Mr Diawara.

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BBC News | AFRICA | Africa's 'greatest explorer' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1068950.stm

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