Ivan Van Sertima (Books)

Ivan Van Sertima Books

Ivan Van Sertima was a literary critic, linguist, and anthropologist whose works challenged prevailing narratives of history and culture. Through his research and publications, particularly concerning the African presence in pre-Columbian America, he made a significant impact on academia. His interdisciplinary approach enriched the study of anthropology, archaeology, and literary criticism, prompting profound shifts in historical understanding. Recognized for his scholarship, he was also invited to nominate candidates for the Nobel Prize in Literature and contribute to rewriting the cultural history of humankind.

They Came Before Columbus

284 pages
10 hours of reading

4.5(2606)Add rating

They Came Before Columbus reveals a compelling, dramatic, and superbly detailed documentation of the presence and legacy of Africans in ancient America. Examining navigation and shipbuilding; cultural analogies between Native Americans and Africans; the transportation of plants, animals, and textiles between the continents; and the diaries, journals, and oral accounts of the explorers themselves, Ivan Van Sertima builds a pyramid of evidence to support his claim of an African presence in the New World centuries before Columbus. Combining impressive scholarship with a novelist’s gift for storytelling, Van Sertima re-creates some of the most powerful scenes of human history: the launching of the great ships of Mali in 1310 (two hundred master boats and two hundred supply boats), the sea expedition of the Mandingo king in 1311, and many others. In They Came Before Columbus, we see clearly the unmistakable face and handprint of black Africans in pre-Columbian America, and their overwhelming impact on the civilizations they encountered.