What is Afrocentrism?

And why is it so controversial?

Back in February, I wrote about Mansa Musa and the vast Mali Empire, delving into Musa's immense wealth and the intriguing mystery surrounding his ascent to the throne.

To quickly recap: according to the 14th-century Arab historian Al-Umari, who chronicled Musa's lavish pilgrimage to Mecca, Musa succeeded a regent who had embarked on an ambitious voyage across the Atlantic – only to vanish without a trace. His disappearance cleared the way for Musa to claim the throne.

In that earlier text, I also explored the various theories surrounding the fabled Atlantic expedition. While there are reasons not to dismiss the possibility outright, most historical evidence suggests the journey did not occur, or at least not in the way Al-Umari described.

Yet, the absence of solid evidence has not prevented the story from gaining traction. In 1976, Ivan Van Sertima – a controversial figure born in Guyana – published They Came Before Columbus. Van Sertima, who studied at Rutgers University in New Jersey and later became a professor of Africana Studies there, argued that the Mali Empire's expedition across the Atlantic did indeed happen – and that it succeeded in reaching the Americas.