Abubakari II

14th-century Malian emperor who abandoned his throne to explore the Atlantic Ocean.

Abubakari II (Mansa Musa's predecessor) made history by commissioning 2,000 ships to cross the Atlantic around 1311 CE, as recorded in Arab scholar Al-Umari's texts. His alleged voyage predates Columbus by nearly two centuries, challenging Eurocentric narratives of exploration.

By relinquishing power for scientific curiosity, Abubakari embodied leadership through intellectual risk-taking. Modern researchers like Gaoussou Diawara argue his expedition possibly reached Brazil, as evidenced by Mandinka cultural traces in South America. This theory, while debated, highlights Africa's overlooked maritime history.