AFRICA’S DISCOVERY OF EUROPE 1450 — 1850 Second Edition Davio Norrarur BospA, 1450-1700. ONE First Sicuts— Lastine Impressrons In September 1695, thee dignified rulers fom the Tswana poople of southor| ‘Afiea (see Map 2) arived in London the sofia visitors to Europe fom that nation. Over the next thee months they made an extorsve tour of England, Scoand, and Wales, stoking and receiving Bish support for protecting ther homeland fom she encroachment of European settlement. "They sacred the support of the British Colon Seeretey and received an audience with Queen Vieoria. From the extensive coverage ther vist r= ‘elved In the press and other records a recent book i able to recount the ‘Trwana chi impressions ofthis land and people so stan fom their homes. Among, other reactions they experienced trepidation at the height ‘of an iron sspersion bridge, were dlighed by the viches and beaut) of Windsor Caste and found fs royal occupant kind an charming, alough remarilly short nd stout! ‘oral the sensation the thre Tewana kings created, such Afian vistors in Burope were nota phenomenon that begin the er of global inperiaisry atthe end ofthe nineteenth century. Afean princes, kings and dignitaries from belo the Sahara had made their way to European capitals and courts for several centuries lack Aficans had been present inthe Mediteranean ‘world since anit, but Westen Europe's Enowledge of sub-Saharan ‘Arica brosdened wien Crusaders brought back wor of kingdoms of black Christians winn dele beyond the boundaic of the Islamic ol. This ure ‘xpecind news manifested ite nthe reportrayat of Sint Maurice asa blk ‘Aiea knight in the presence of Africas inthe statuary ofthe north porch ofthe thiteenth-century Chartres cathedral, aa in the legend that first ap- ‘peated after 1150 of "Prester ohn,” a powerful Christian ruler somewhere {he indian Ocean i, The number of Afi in Europe increase afer 130, fs delegations traveled from African kingdoms and ay slaves brought fora ‘Sub-Saharan Affcabogan to outnumber shves of este European origins. ‘The fiteenth-centry Fortagucse voyages along, the Atlantic coast of Alca greatly increased the movement of both elite and enslaved Africans to EuropeAffce's iacovery of Barats Dif tity we indy Hire Boch i 1500 igo lot aed Af ing nd di ining 98 ‘Et Jou ha a hy a i fet a Secand ares of encounter between Afrcats and Buropeans in sta Aiea. Ths the middle ofthe filtenth century mazks the beginning an era of continuous and increasing interaction between theo continents i ei cates ‘Ascommercal and caltural interactions grew both Alcan and Buropeans ede many adjustments in thet ideas ofeach other. This tude concered ith presenting the lang-negleted Arcan side of tse mecings, but i ful to begin witha few wards about the changes in European perspectives out Afscans In anit and during most ofthe Middle Ages, European ges oF Arians had been fay ig and dominated by abstiat sje. . Thus, European artist and thinkers before 1400 usually depicted. Ad nas the opposite of themselves; they were the “other” in cuarenteeaderic ge, Some ancient drinking cups for example, depicted a dark Aion face vone side and light European one on te oer This pict daly bee me overlain with an ideological one aftr Ilam displaced Chistarty a8 edomsnant religion of North Afi. Although Bsropsons wete wll atane at North Acar looked ite differen from southern Europeans, Muslin ee frequent depicted with blak faces. Verbal usage was often no clare. rkskinne “Blackamooes” from below the Sahara might be distinguished om the lighter “Moors” of Nox Afric, but often the fo tens were used interchangeably that is difcalt to srt out the teaningy The impr mn as a product of the fact that in European minds the symbols Of the ns was more important than the elit ef individ pigmentation. Ate ns were tokens, not persons, int Sighs—Lasting Inpresions 5 However as Afticans became more common in Europe, reality began to tsiumph over mgery in Westem art—or a est the walt began to femper the images, Ihe arival of Ethiopian dekgations confirmed te long-rumered ‘existence of blk Christons, breaking down the [lamie stereotype of Ati ‘ans. A parade of Afican princes produced a striking change in paintings of the three Magi who came to worship theChait chile, Wherens eres allthree had bess of light complexion, hy the end of the Aeorhcentury the co ‘vention of portraying ane of thom as ark skinned became tly established In Western aren these and other Renaissance paintings and drawings the generic black faces of enler centres wore replied by portraits that ae not ‘nly petecnal, but distinguishable today as people rom Ehiopa, rom West ‘Ain, or ftom West Central Aiea. The artist’ recognition of Aficans’ physical diversity was accompanied by a ler recogtion of thee socal de. ‘verity wel for paintings abo show both the Aan kings and the Arian servants of wealthy southere European househols. This, even asthe fst Portuguese explores contacted the people af sub-Saharan Afi, the image of |Afca in Surcpean minds wos already changing ELITE AFRICANS IN EUROPE TO 1650 Africans were also expanding thee knowledge andl understanding of Europe ‘The ft persistent effort #9 bulld tes to Furepe came from the ancient kingdom 6 Fihipia in the mountainous highlands ofthe upper Blue Nie {see Map 1) The kingdom's ruler had adopted Christaity in the fourth century, and the djnasty in power in the fourtonthcuntary claimed descent ‘Eom King Solomon of anciont lel Foe atleast a century the Negus Nagast (Ging of kings or experon) of 2hiopin had maintained a permanent listening postin the eastem Mitra though te Flopian monks who served Bs protectors of sone of oraalen’s Cristian holy places. Pehaps prompted by the decinng fortanes ofthe Chestian communities in Egypt and Nubia, King Wesdem Avad of Ethiopia santa delegation of tity persons to Fumpe dn 1806, seking fo forge a panies allance against the Muslims who "were worrying his neighbons. It appensthat the delegation called on rls in Spain and visited Pope Clement V at his palace ln Avignon in southern France. On the pope's ecommendatin they journeyed on to Rome to visit ‘the churches of Saunt Peer and Pas. Thon, fom Genoa, thay secured pas- sage back home ia the Red Sea ‘No alllance emerged from this embassy, but it probably accounts for the papal leters tht were sent out to the ruler of Ethiopia in 1329 and the {lspatc of an Kalin Dominican bishop to the Kingda the next yea. From ‘uch European vistors Fuopian rulers gathered news ofthe changing po- lial geography of Meiternean Europe. Suc contacts were cso at the root of Faropeans” Mentication ofthe mythical Trester Jor. a Cheisan price ofthe Indian Osean regio, with the Ethiopian dynasty Tiler emperors daected sew embassies to Europe when tbe occas. ‘warranted it In 1402 Ethiopian ambassadors presented gifts of leopards and( Africa's Dover of Europe somatic spices tothe Doge of Venice. In 1428 Emperor Vihak (e 419-1490) propored an allie between Ethiopia and the Kngeom of Aragon tht was be stale by a double mariage of King Alionso Vs daughter totheemperor hd the kings son to Yishaksdaughter. This proposal wasnot completed at Yishak’s successor, Emperor Zera-Yaks® (134-1468), the suthorof sever) works of polial theology snd an ardent snd tyrsnical promoter of exc ancl reform ancl oyal centralization, in 1450 dlepached four Ethiopians to Alfonse who by then was also euling the kingdom of Naples, One object of his mission was to hire Furopean artisans, whose technical skils an ealet hopin appeal had enumerted: miiatrits for mansript iuminatiog, soldemiths and sversmiths, architects, carpenters, organ-mabrs lara trumpeter, and makers of all srs of amen 1432, an Ethiopian oat assador named George went ta Lisbon, a in 1439, nother Etbopian went o the Duke of Milan who wrote the Ethiopian emperor a eter inguiing whether he possessed the magic books writan "by hls ancestor Solomon’ —a ely velerence to the remarkable Kea Nagas, the Pahipan Bok fhe Glory Kings! ‘Meanie, the Mastin semis ofthe Otloman Turks were assaulting the ast outposts of Byzantine Christianity inthe easter Mediterranean, When he Oitomars conquered Constantinople in 153, leaders inthe Latin West new for themselves the fear of Muslin power shat had bren worying thopla’s rulers fora centory and hall To meet the Musi threat, he rariarch of Rome the pope) called achurch courll whichnetat Ferra and sorence fom 137 € 1445, in hopes of forging a united Christian font by ealing the long-standing breach between Rome and the Easter Chances The councl Was attended bythe exiled Byzantine emperor andthe Patan Constantinople, bythe had ofthe Russian church, and by delegates from he Patarch of Alexandria (to whore jriscition the Ethiopian church be engd), along with to moni sent im Jecusale to represent the Ehio- ins. One ofthe Ethiopian monks, who bore te name ot Peter, the ist of the poses and the patron of the Latin Church, made a powerful impression van he tad the pope at Florence in 1481 thatthe Ethiopian emperor was ager "tobe ited with the Roman Chirch nto cast hielo your most i fect” Perhaps Peter was cried away by the fervor for Christan en otitis very doubtfal if Emperor ZaracYakob would have endorsed such ows, if he even kaew of them. In any event, the Ethiopian church not at the short-lived Chistian union that resulted from the cour Sti the thloplan delegates had made an impression. The images were subse ently cxst inte the bronze doors made fr the new Bases of Sain Peter 1445), and an Afsican prince also appeared inthe our of the Mag palate y Bennozz0 Gozzali for Medici Palace in Florence (1459)” ‘We do not know precisely how news of the counll was seueved and nterprted in Ethiopin, but between 148) and 1490) three more Fipian legations came to Europe to discuss Christian unity. To accommodate he fst, which included a cousin ofthe emperor, Pope Sistas IV repre the hunch of Saint Stephen the Creat and an adioining house in the Vatican, hopin dg he Gna’ afm» etry Pion Bk of i a! ws pel pate te aayAfc’s Dies of Europe sown thereafter as Saint Stephen of the Fbiopians, this ality functioned. > "hospice for Etopian visitors and pilgrims during the nex eo centuries, well as.acenes for Ethiopian stuhes in Farope, There between 1537 and 52 the remarkable Ethiopian scholar Tafa Seven (known to Buropeans as er the Hihipian edited and published a New Testament art» Missa i se, the Ethiopian liturgical Iangoage, withthe ai of two Italian Domin\- =. Inexplaation ofhis presence ane purpose, he wrote, "am an Ethiopian gm» fromthe land othe infidels othe a of te fil through ea od land At Rome I found rst for my soul through the sight faith” These cre diplomatic words tha didnot mean Tesfa thought Fehopian Chistian, ete any lesa part of the troe Chistian faith? , By the Inte teenth century, oer royal and diplomatic delegations frome antic Aca were arving in sonthem Europe by means of Porgese ips. Surviving accounts of Uhese visits reveal more of European reactions the Africans than they do of African reactions to Borope, but Acan ends are implicit inthe sanding of such delegations to Furope and in the sequent cote oftheir relations. As subsequent chapter exmine in de i these partis from Aftka’s Adan coast were ote as cancrmed a the hiopiars were with establishing religious ties with the Latin West, but they ere Wkewiie Interested in cbtaning tchnialastistance Uargely sultry) din expanding the commercial exchanges thatthe Portuguase Voyages nd opened up Albwugh the Portguese ships had been bunglng cap ves Back from Atlantic Africa since the 1440, regular parse of oficial legations from that coast reached Portugal fen the 1480s on. The fs, #4, came from the kingdom of Kongo on the lower Congo River. The rajof Benin sent an embassy to Portal in 1485 Delegation rom the Jlof gdm on the lower Senegal River cme to Porkga in 1487 ane 88. A rs! Kongoise embass) in 1488-1490 helped make the monster of Salat oy in Lisbon a second center of African studies in Barope, where Kongolese ame European religous and secular knowledge and where Portuguese issionavios were trained in Kongolesecultre. The details and large context ese Anti Afian visits ave explored in Chapters 2 and 3. ENSLAVED AFRICANS IN EUROPE ings and ambassadors were not the only Afcans whose numbers were ing in Renalssance Europe. From the fitcnth century European atts lacy depicted Afsican in digpied but humble voles as servant, 2+ cans, laborers, and artisans. adua artist Andrea Mantegne depicted an fcan woman servant in his port ji in 1481 land a black gondollet jes along s Venetian canal in Vitlore Carpcco's Miracle ofthe Tre Cross 194). A combo of Asean musicians adds contemporary tall the Pore sce pointing of Set Ursula and Prine Con of 1520. ch eter Known e the German artist Abbrecht Dare’ staking engravings of a blck man S08) an ofan African woman ramet Katrina” Thiseecond group of Fit Sighs—Lesing Inpresions 7 Africans in Europe were the producto he Afsican lave tae va the Sahara ‘nd the Atlant in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, as Chars Verlinden has documented, the number of “blacks” was rising among the mostly Slave and ‘North Africa save populations of Mediterranean Swope In Sil inthe late thisenth century, for sample, white slaves sll were more commen than those Hlenfifed as “black” or “live” a category that might include mlat- toes), and female slaves were two or thre times ss emorous as males Ia the notarial records on which Verlinden relies most Backs (and some white, brows, and olivehued persons) vere formed “Saracens” that Mims, 2 fact that islso evident fom Hh names of back slaves Fata Sai, Arash, Maseyd All of these facts suggest that mest blcks in Europe before the ‘teenth century may not Rave Been born below the Sahara, but came from slave populations om in Nort Affe whose ancestors had en rh scros the desert “lowever, when the supply of slaves coming into Mediterancan Farope | {com thw sotean Sle rgions wasinterspted during te fiterth century by Ottoman conquests, European merchants increased their purchaes in {he slave markets of North Afi to sich a degree that dark-skinned slaves became the majority in Europe. By the end of th iftenth century one cetate nsoulhesstem Sil had twenty adult slaves, Fans 10 the darkze people fom below the Sahars Supporting evidence also comes from regulations inthe episcopal constitutions of Lshon and Evora that forbade priests from owning, white women, but apparently dia not conser black feral slaves to bea sexual tempiaton It nok recorded if sip Sharan Adar sim pele tense fro ase tation. Fiat SightLawting Inpresons » However a the numberof acs in eran tates increas ae adopted Europe ctrl and regis fact, pejues sn to have sfc tnd inpoliments to socal atone betwean Afcare and Baropeans de- ‘ned The public eord det about must of ese eau, But the Por tage Ingo recorded the coef afeblack named Baetiowho, nie Youth bad ben nrc to omsexal paces by Earopean man and ‘ota etch acts inl i597 he was reported tenon bys Labon stn who, aperenty gnoan of Hat's sexual prerences Td allowed Hm osha fsb. Thc bing is eon ofeoe, Basti Was ‘whipped and sentenced fo ten yar inthe galleys Tbr more eveiingo! hello price are the records mages and mringe propons between ie Acasa he ean courts Gas war's swe pervestve cen itent and sbacertrentny ope than were clr ar color, so both afin and European ates fam Allens favors niga pt of ipomat tn, Oe art the popes ced net by Fniprr Vs of hp King Alfonso Vo ‘Argon in 108 haan allancebe sealed by a double matage beeen het ‘thes them sbteth centr aebloan hor th gdm Kongo tradi te sol houshold of Porgal A halter later in 107 1608; wile avin Portal ason ofthe rey Chestan King of Wars in the Niger Det marta 4 Foraguse noblewoman. Wang ide n- "enc that p h ming ne his he at rossi hi eppion pve approval by dling the Wes Aan to Etre Chatn af tic boon” ne DISCOVERING EUROPEANS IN AFRICA ‘As these examples reveal, bofre 1650 black African visitors were becoming familie with parts of Burope and with European culture and Beliis. As 2 ‘consequence Europeans alsa became familiar with the appearance of AFCA, ‘0 the Portuguese onthe early voyages of exploration in the Anti coast were ot surpzeed to encounter carkskinned people below the Sahara But ‘most residents of subSaharan regions wore clewy astounded by thee fist ‘encounters. The sight of paleskinned people ind clothing ariving on ships fof unknown design must have been a tving a extraterrestrial emerging from a fying saucer would be o people today Aloe mach of the Allantic conet down which the fmt Portupueve sil people had not experianced pelo contacts with fregners from across the Sokara or across the Indian (Geean. The further south the Portuguese sailed te les ely were coastal Alricans to suspect that other crtinents, inhabited by nonblack popultions, ‘even existed. As the examples inthe rest ofthis chapter demonstrat, took 1 profound strech ofthe imagination for many Africas to decide who ot ‘what ther strange vistors were. Mea’ snuggles to understand a ciferent branch of humanity have thi naive qualities but ittook only ashor ime for ‘mort Africans to grep the mligious, cultural, and technological pessibities ‘that these encounters opened up.. Africa's Dicavey of Europe ‘Arca onthe Semel River (ce Map) go thr it sight of Europeans n 1s when a Portuguese expect saa! nto view. Men and wornen rowed rnd examine Cadamoso, an Haan member a the expeition, rion e went on shore to vist ter mart. "Tey marveled no hee amy ling” healt “than at my white skin Some Acne Rigen his ack damask osblet (nic) and his grey woolen cape "with ch amaze rent Cadamost father fats Usk stereo my hands and bs ed rabbed me with sir pte fo ciscover whether my wees wat Gye oF est Tey were astound odncover hats whines dl otra ot “Alcan ithermen eho vntred out the shige enchord in Bei ar preset as mach wonder tthe Eaopene’ pose store on se, dat hel pers The sp at sete tbe some sof mone, hey nd Cada, the porthole nthe bow lol ike ee hough wih ht sway aout wer Encouraged toc cabana fae, esto to dg caries rel pods, ers amazed bythe conststion the sp and by her equlpment-mast salle, igging anchor” as well sty tn Baropcas aby onanigate went of sightofland Pointing out fal nang one's way over dstances on an was fc enovgh hey eaoned ce Bropean silos mstbe tal great wizards to sal onthe se Te Seneglee shurmen ako marveled atthe many ot ater pose Sone of dhe Esrapesns rom msi instrament oa bring cal ead rere amazed atthe explanation of ovr Uy could ake candle thomecves ro la beens “Cadamcatn says tes pratalminded people were patalcly i ree by the Porte wespons bath ht roeoos the form whch fey woul ave rsognied few hon bows) an he feline annon mss They to fight when the Portagecae demonstrate the ing mortar an express! stnisnat the aso (which seems ea rte) ha single shot could sly more than a hundred men Tl co ison that twas an cen of he devils" echoes the opin people fn vy prt the er amet arm ofthe denies th re eevoton very encounter hs sown sigue agpscts, yo these any Senegaise ccs (Ini Bt sight of Europeans dspay key clement that were epeated in sequent encounters, Two things about the Eropeat ought can alten ined dee suange pis sppenance ad et nus mates ponent is also caer fir encounters atin heeft acount oe thes ange persons aloe the Se aalse de n0shap line bere natal and the superna or aga] ements They were ot speaking metapacalywt hey sgested the rtagoese might be wizard and in lag wih vl piste nether AF ana ner Buropeas others laced credence in he power of aera orees to contro) their lives. es eid not ae long Before these fst mesons le Afcan to wo mone ind tt somewhat contractor concsions. One was tat hese snes £0 different in appearance from normal (ue. African) humana weight be iat Sighs—Losing Inpressions 8 dangerous sorcerer: or evil spirits whose marvelous possessions came through the wre of evil magic Because such powers could only bebtained by ‘malevolent actions that went against normal ethical vluer—such as mover, Cannibalism, and other hore tes—such wizards ought be avoided. The ‘Second Afcan conclusion went in the opporite direction: It ould be good to befriend these vistors from sczoss dhe exe fo acquite save of thei mar ‘elous goods and gain aces othe spiritual power or practical knowledge thotlay behind them. Tracing how these several responses played out over the ‘next four centuries isthe central task of this book. ‘Word of strange vistors spread rapidly. Arican along the Gambia River (ce Map 1) had alteady formed a very negative impression of Fsrepeans ‘luring the few wacks i tok the Rrst Portuguese expedition fo Work Hs Way south rom the Senegal. AS Cadamesto tls ta let of ge canoes str unde the expedition ast mounted the Gambian 1155, and posoned anows trined down spon the sips. When the Portuguese retemiod the fie with crossbows and cannon the esuling consternation and bloodshed persuaded ‘he Gambians to ages 19 a ceasefire, Through interpreters, the Portuguese asked for an explanation forthe attack, nssing that the expedition merbers “were men of peace, and waders in merchandie,” who wished only to have “peace and finaly relations... with them, if they were willing” The Bux repenns asserted that they “had come om asta land tof iting git to {thar King an! lord on be of our king of Portage” The Gamblans sep that they ready knew othe tae the Portuguese were engage in along the ‘Senegal River ancl were certain tht ithe Senegalese ad sought Portuguese feedip, it ould oly be to gun acento thet el powers. For, the Gam ‘lane weresure, "Christian ate man flesh an. only bought blacks teat them,” a belie that would endure for the nex four centuries. Pally, the ‘Gambins asserted, they wou ber shught the Portuguese an pdr all their goods than be on fnenly tems with such monster.” (Qa sefetion, the Gambiane mst have relied that tole chances of sce in 9 violent conftntation withthe wellarmod Portuguese were re ‘mote, Cooler African heads soon decide there was more to Be gains from tending pencefully withthe Earopeans than trom fighting to dostoy thr. Aer negotiations with the local ruler on the Gambia, both sides agreed 0 ‘open tmaing relations, Within seeeks the Gambia River was on its Way {9 ‘becoming an important center of tade between Africans and Buropesns ‘Over the centuries Aftzaneat dozens of adn sits ang the AUandc ‘coast of Africa decided tn open commercial relations withthe merchants of ‘many Esropean mations. Yer the tug-of-war betwoon mata gan and moral fepignance grew stronger asthe purchase of human beings grow in impor tance in the te. Coast Arcane grew accustomed to the Europeans’ ap- pearance bt eapsives brought fom inland regions forsale into the Alantic $ave tage were a strack with terror by te Europeans’ stange looks and Stranger intentions as ose on the Senegal River had been in 1458, One cghtcendhcontury African echoed the Senegalese reactions three centuries cetier when he weote dhat his belief that Eurepean seamen were monsters ot4 Afica's Dieser of Europe spirits was reinforced by the seeming magical way they could make a ship rove across the water by means af “lots put upon the masts by the help of. ropes” and sop by dropping the anchor, es well as by their use of navigational devices Such as the quadrant ‘Over tine, Europeans and their ships grew oe fia sights along the const but a white man could still ect great intrest (and en) in soa pats of inland Ain centuries after Europeans fst reached sub-Scharan ‘Risen. At the end ofthe eightesth century, Scottish explorer Mungo Fark fsenerad 9 range of rections fromm the inland West Acars who encoun tered him ashe reed along the southern sim ofthe Sahara in search of to Niger River. Some individuals diepayed « celatvely sophisticated under, standing suchas the ule ofthe Flan’ imamate of Bund in December 1785, ‘who spoke favorably of Europeans, “extolling thee immense wealth, and 00d dispoitions,” although these compliments seem fo have been part of ploy-sccesfl inthe end-—to reve Park of his best blue coat The King’s ‘wives’ racions were more dec, ‘They ali me wth a god desl f pity on dierent subjects psi on ‘he tte of i hin and the prominence of my nos. Tey ested hat both were atic. The fit they was pred when wat an tne, by tipping me ni they ire that ny nos ben pce erry Sa, ‘i hed aeguled present unsiphty and unnaralcnvoeraion Ingited tothe encampment ofa Moorish people (he Oulad Marcin March 1796 tosatisty the curosity ofthe rule's wife, Fatima, ark was ecalved With great interest and a considerable lick of decorum: ‘My arval was no sooner abcd, than the people who dew water a he ‘velar doa te buckets; ose Innis mou! ter hos, and ey ‘Nomen and hen, came raning or galloping tvards met s00 fund ‘ys rounded by sucha crowd ht could seacely mow oe pulled my ‘Ss, anor toe of my Rak 2 Uae opp fo examine ny ait ‘There again the women sestrained their curiosity last “[They asked a thousand questions inspect every part ofmy apparel searched my pockets, spd obliged me to urbutton my waistcoat and splay the whiteness of my ‘kin they even counted my tes and fingers, ae they doubled wheter [ras fn tratha human being” Afow days later a delegation of women visited Pak ‘om brazen mission: “to ascertain, by actual inspection whether the rite of ‘dreumdision extended to the Nazarenes (Christians), as well as to the fa- lowers of Mahomet” Paris discrete about the outcome ofthat particular mission, but notes thatthe women "were very lagulitive ad examined my hairand skin wth great attention but affected to consider me a sot inferior beingt themselves, a would knot thet byows, and seem to shudder, when ths looked at the whiteness of my skin” Firat SighoLadting Inpresions 5 Cher inknd Afticans expres the supa or hoor at such a sight in more dononstative waya For ample the fst Earopean to ene the "ruse expt ofthe Takara people of mode Botswana in about 1529 record, These whee tet (the cveds ofl] nfs of CGnvulsve ugh" The cdr "reamed snd nthe most oeror Ned te the is place of concealment they could fd” At abut the sme tie { neghboringTewana people began to deseribe Europeans a "white lee” of thesort hat ooupied ego quarters of domestic annals. west mesa tobe atering metaphor ‘Alans of eter sophistication might concer taste st what they saw, bt their sections were not play ilferent In TR24, Shak, the grt founder of he Za rator closed is impressions ofthe Rand of Ew ‘opeans he had permite to ener is southern Alcon gem 9 fis Es {Beh end Hey yen. Shika conceded hat the Europeans had ire ‘hany valuable ls and mansiactered goods fom thelr ancestors, bat he pie tat sh feta ad el back "he greta gif god aa ein forts doesnt neces the wearing of clothe ode te tite kn which was ot pasar othe ee” To be su as Alsars be {ame more accosted (he sigh of “whiter,” tr vews moderate “he Zu composer of "The Paes of Meyer” poe in ney Fyre’ honor fod 3 yo intig his skin in a somewhat more Rater ge Fyn asad tobe Beal as the meen of the Bo, Which re yellowish on the wings. Dur setitema, trough whore ee the sun sine As these amples suggest the age, sox, sophisication, and knowlodge of Alan observers affected their responses Sofood the reumstances of the "Europeans The observations of a ruler n the Gold Coast (se Map 1) n 1482, ‘whose suse the Portgute rendered ss "Carsmansa” (perhaps 8 corrapion| ‘oF Kwamin Ansa, ie, King Ans) are instructive An oil delegation fom the hing of Portugal had rrved in the ream #9 negotiate the constuction ‘of a trading fortes. Caramansa graciously weld the delegation led bby Diogo de Azambuja. Having bedecked himeolf from ead fo foot in slden Jewelry in preparation forte meeting, the Afsican euler praised the Eppearance of Ue Portuguese delegtes, who for ther part had put on their fest silk and brocade garmens along with abundant jewels and go. He note the contrast between this offical delegation an the ocssional Crested and ragged” Portuguese soho ad Visited his shores ealler, men ‘whom he judged "oul and vile" Inthe er ofthe slave tad, Afticans ‘woul continis to see a mix of Fsropeans “foul and vile” as well as ichly ‘lothed in ik and brace, basin Caraman's cise, the goods Europeans brought to trade determined ther welcome more than the nezy oftheir appearance,6 Afica's Dizooery of Farape oropean’ reputation for valuable trade goods was evidently an ipo tant reason forthe enthusiastic reception ane group of Acans gave fo the English explorer Willam B. Balkic and his part four centuries later. On & ‘voyage of exploration in 1854 motivated both by an interest in geographical [knowlege and commenal opportunities, Baike's ship stopped for he night ‘atside the walled town of Ganciko far up the Bonue tobutary ofthe Niger River (Gee Map 1)- As Bake tells iy most cal Afsana Aled when Wey realized the visitors intended to come ashore: the ony person et ov us, was slay invdua who etwuen ft Sndexcitment oul hry utr ssl word Iovalked up him, oer 2 ‘ny hand which hesureyed mest ssp and atenglh touched wha ch reliance ashe woul piece of reso, bat eng that it did not ‘Bam, and Ua we were gute. e ew dw pen and danced an shut foro. stoutingal hein [ash esto ths tov at the op ‘Ph voce nu," Whte men whe men he Nazarene (Chetan) hare ‘Some white mn go whit me rich white mn Kn white men white Assured by this massage that the vistors were friendly, townspeople crow ed around hem, some shaking dels hands, oder evidently sowing their ‘own absence of malice by pointing atthe vistors with the butt ends of thelr spear and drawing empty bowstings. Many, Bake relate, “threw thean- Selves on the ground and went through an extemporaneois couse of gymn- pasties” in an apparent “ecstasy of delight.” More sedately, the ruler of ‘Ganaiko "hanked God that the white men had come to his county." ‘Acarefal analysis of Balke’ account also reveal other element. The very Just Affican reaction tothe sight ofthe Europeans was far and suspicion of ‘eit intentions: most hid themselves. This was tre eventhough the inab- Stans of this elaivly sophisticated contmunity clearly vere not igor of the existence of such "Nazarene," as Sey termed them ia Maslin fasion ‘Ganaiko wes an unusual town, Settled by Palani people in the midst of 3 Joon area, ts inabitans were able fo speak the Hausa language widely ‘sed inthe region by the Hausa trading peopl. Duki's party may havebeen the first Furopeans the inhabitants of the town had seen, but some had probably acon lightkinged North Africans who sometimes crosied the ‘exert # the Hausa ccs to the north. As iasprobobly exiberant asthe = fsctions of some Gandiko residents appear, Acars had a uaditin of lavish hospitality that was wel documented over the cena, Hlospitaity was indeed a virtue commented on by net ll European vis ‘tors tena Sharan Aca Cadsimosto, although characterizing African sill ‘mannered at table fbcaase they ato with ther ands), a well as ars and ‘Geat, prised than for being generally “charable reving strangers wll ingly, and providing a nights ndging and one of two meals without any being fom the and of the dead. MacGafe ound that even after decades of ej colonial le isthe weet cotury, most Kengolese stil iter ped Esopean in ers of cosmology that posted he witence of 0 Pra! werlds abled bythe ving an the dead and divided by ster Thelving were bck cole, prone todas ard dt heres te don teow sil ele maga! powers and immoral. "Ae MacCaley args aithogh Kongo perception may seem “mis Unie, not dotnet atonal to thowe ota the cosmaogial system, Sichmipercepions reno stengeror more removed em empl eal than wert the sac mages of Afton that ook hold of Epes minds ‘oder times,” The development and pestnce of Kongolese images of Exrope oe especialy hy documenta Bt very largely from he European ide Linlorkanately rene of the Kengolese who taveled to Europe wrote an2 ‘Afvc's Discover of Eurnbe sccount oftheir impressions an experiences there. Yetthere is god reasoto Delieve thatthe Kongolese casmological cancption of the encounter with Fusope was not unigue. Although cocumentation i thinne, other Afton societies rast have interpreted thelr encountor in an analogous manner. “Afi fist reactions to Europeans tell mach of the rediscovery of bu mankind undervay around the weeld In this ere. Yet they also som more five than Europeans” reactions to ther encounters with Alans. The due ‘ata Europes who rode these reactions may have eaggerated African responses somewhat, their own i a more sophisticated ight, but {here i good reoson fo expect hat the diflernces were gute veal Europpars ‘were intracing in various parts of Afric that had vietuall no contact withthe ‘side world, whereas Aficans had become famine sight in souther Eur ‘ope much eater. European seafarers were not encountering Afsicans forthe fst time, and most erly ships camied Asean interpreters. For Africans who Jha had so previous inkling ofthe existence of Europe's inhabitant a thee material possessions, fst sights could be waumate. The more sophisticated ‘concealed thei wonder an disgust, ut others excaimed their amazement or tested the Bazopean’ many in elementary ways. Some aspects of Euro pene’ strangeness persisted, whereas other moderated with longer ac ‘uaintance Perceptions of Esropeansas fandamentaliysimlarto Africans and {ts fundamentally diferent seem often to have coed, Revulsion ard at traction also went hand in hind, For reasons that are both realistic and deeply ingrained in Afeican pattems of thinking, the European culture technology, and material goods proved tobe highly atective t Afscans. The opening of trade also opened doors of understanding, In discovering Furopeans, fans ‘would discover theron relative position nthe ager word. Te ener into [Aidan exchan ges they woul et these and expe the weakens of their own societies. These subjects are examunod in the chapters that flow. Notes 1. NetPasors, king Xam, Emperor White Quen: Vrms hah ico Eas (Crip: University of Chiesgo Pres, 158). 2 Soe FM, Soden, Bis Atul tipo he Gr men Exerc (Cai area Univesity Pr, 1 Jean Deve, The ne fh Bl ‘West Av, Er Cro eto Dery pat, Fro the Dimon Tit te Baran of Seen! (Cambridge, MAY Harel Unversity Pres, 17). 1.0.6.8 Cin tii nari ci 140-152 (Laco: Cambridge Unive Pran forthe Halla Soy 1858), pp 20-15) Adan Hastings, The Canc nai, 180-195 (Oxf Clarendon rey, 1938) p70. “4 Charles, dels Rone, La our de Aigo mayo ge (Calo: Ist ‘rans #Areeolgie Oneal pour a Sct Royale de Gexpraphie «ype, 1904.2), be-48 2 2, ES Hastings, Cape A, pp 982 First SightLasing Impressions a 5, Hastings, Cc in, p43; Jun Devs, The Iage of he Bik Wester ‘0h vol 2, rote Ey Cartan Ee the “Age cf Dicey” past 2, Ara ne ‘histan Orme of i Word New York Wiliam Moro, 1979, p. 19. 6. Mans Werner Debrmer, Prsciceand Prete: Af n Ear: Hit of _Aprcans in Eurpe fre 1318 (asl: Bake Ata Bbographen, 179), pp. 38-5; Hastings Chuo A, pp 0,17 7, Devise, nig ote Back 2: 78-120 8. hares Vrinden Lice da rope msi (Ghent Ribsuniverse Geni 977, TIS, 8 pp. 217, 358-4 10, A.C.deC.M Saunders A Sc istry of Blac Stes and Fen in Prt, 16411533 (Cambie: Camtdge Univenty Pen, 182) pp 293), Ss 87. 18; Jara DL "The Volume of he Ea tate lave Tade 1450-121," oa Apa History 3 (197) abe 5 and 7 Rats Dike “Sevan Sey inte Si ‘eeth Century: Saves and Precimen” Hpi Arion Hist Roto 47 (1967 so6 1 Pater Pye, Staying Poe Te Hisry of Blak Prope tn Brain (Lorton: Pato Pres 1984, pp. 9-12, quae ppl modernized, Parsons ing Kham, p13. Eighrne Abin wore aubaquly exchange for Engl prac ingpa bul ‘anyother remained even fers second banat cree wn ted in 1 12 Sounder, Sei Mistry, pp 10-2, 108. 13. Verner, Bee, 98, 52-25, 1. Pike, Sevan Sosy” pe. 388-1. 15. tnSaunders Sa istry, p 150 18 tid, pp 102-4 17. Bid, p10, Sounder fue another sample in 1568 of «fee back man sentenced t the galleys ty the Inqustion er eon 16. jon Thorton, “Ea Kongo Papa Relations” Hr i 8 (196) 18 ALEC Ryder, "Misonary Activity in the Kingom of Wars to tw Ealy ‘ite Cary jai Histor Say of Nei (9K) 5.10 19. G.R. Crone ean tans, Te Voges of Calas and Othe Docume ot ate Af tte Sed Hal the Fao Cetiry (Lander: Huy Sey 1997) pp. 8 1. hid, pp. 7-40, 21, Olandah Equa, The intmsting Nato an! Or Writings, of. Viasat carts New Yor: Pong Bank, 135), p. 57,3 22 Mango Pat, Tes inthe tern Discs offi Reema in th Yes 1795, 1796 end 1797 (Lond Jn Mara, 1916), [5254 18-20, 30-1. 22, Jahn Campbel Tras Sth An. Beng Naat of Sond Pury nt theft of Pt Coury (Lenn: Fans Wey, 192, 1222 Jon Brcal, ‘Toaster of Suto Ax (Londor: Largan Hurst, Res Ore, Brown ££ Caen 1522, 259, by Joan Comal ad Jon Comore Of Reels od ‘Retolun: Chr, Coan eat Conca: South Aer (Cheago, UN ‘vest of Ching Tres 199), 1188-50.* Afirc’s isouery of Europe 24, Hey Faas Fyn The Diy of Henry rece Ey Jes Sat and. ‘McK: Maelo Ptemerzbg Shur and Sone, 1999, pp 8 25, Thar ae fo detailed accounts of hs encounter That by Ruy dina his tec tale by Jon Wil len Faroe et fs, 180-1) (Lda iatluyt Soy, 142), 17078 a tanlton ofthe account by Joo de Rares sn re, Calon pp. 11428. 25, lit lor Bai Nara fan Ealing Voyage wp th Rios Ka nd Bie Comma Koc as th ie a Ts) 854 Lerten: oa Maen, 158, pi 2, Cron, Catamacte, pp 52-8. * 28 Pek Daw, ISO - 19, Diogo da Cant, *Narrtof he Shipwreck the Great Ship Sao Thx in the Land of te mos in he Year 8 andthe Tal and Tribulation Undergo by ‘Dom Paulo Se Linu n the Region of Karin nil Hs Desh in Does, The Pai sty of So 1589-2622 Cambri Hehlyt Sock), 195) pp. 798. ‘Fanon Vad’, “aan of te Mirae dt Peel the Get Sp fan Rpts, 122," Bove, ey Trai History, 2, SL DyAlmads, “Tretis.” pp 245-46 Fyn Diy, p12. [2 Jeno Labo, Te Ries of jr La, tas: Donal M, Locka eM 43 Cot London Haklt Sty 989), pp 23-2 18, Dla, “Tots” p20 1H, Couto, “Nur,” and to Mepis Lavan, “Shipwreck of the Get ip so Aer ae tisnercy of the People Wo Were Save rom Tein Bost Ting istry pp. 22-95, LAUD, 188, 1GACL Andee Bt, Te Stage ce of ‘ad fat of Leigh Ange md ie Adoiing Royo ed EG. Raverteln {Nendcin/ Lister: Krsus Reprint, 1967). 55 Bower, el Tape History, pp 78, 16-42, 0810, 26,27, 20-8, 2% Wl Macally, “Dislogs ofthe Dest: ump en the Ataric Cast of Asie" in Ince Undesnings Oeroing, Rapin en Rising nt Eos iene Exposed tr as th aly Mr Ba, Sant B Setar (New Yorks Cambge Univers Pres, 198, p. 257. The lowing Inerpreation tay dapendson Anne Hilton, Ta Koi f Kongo (Onor Caron Pres, 185), eee 1. Maca, “Diop f de Det" p. 27 Suggested Readings Tk, Jon Wa. Transsor andl er. Eompens in Wt Ai, 180-1560 Droit Nand Sop fru Eri Ht AP te ‘Aor Atgt of Coton Catt Ep Tee on he Ey Eh Veg {etary ont Gut Loca Halu Sexy 1982 Boer; CR Eto, The Ti sry fe Se, 158-1622 Nari of te Prague Es nome Thon 1569), Sef Art 1593), Ba 12), he Journeys ofthe Surefvors in South East Afice, Cambridge: Halt Society, 1959. Fit SightLasing Impressions 25 Devise, Jon, The age oft Hl Wet Ar velume 2 Fram he ly Clon "Em tote “Age of Dicey,” pat 2 Aion te Cason Onto of Wer ‘Nw ors Wim Maron 1979, Sur, A.C-deC_M.A Soc History f lak Sees nd Freie in Pr 441- 1h, Cambie: Cambridge Uris Pes 1982 Swart Stet Bir Inlet Untentodigs: Oro, Retin aed Rfitng ‘te snk benFarepeses na Or Papen Evy Mor Er New York Cambie Gravesity Prey 988