DID MUNGO PARK REALLY DISCOVER THE RIVER NIGER?

Michael Iboh, a Rivers born writer gives his opinion on the discovery of River Niger.

Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Mungo Park, a Scottish explorer was said to have discovered the River Niger in 1796 during his first expedition to Africa.

Could this be true? Follow me patiently as I expose the white lie behind the humiliating insult on Africans.

Before we go further, let me give a brief description of the River Niger to enable easy comprehension of the expository.

The River Niger spans across West Africa, flowing through Guinea, Mali, Benin, Niger, and Nigeria.

The river originates in the Guinea Highlands, near the town of Tembakounda and has a length of approximately 4, 180 kilometres (2, 597 miles) long. It flows northwest through Mali, then southeast through Niger and Nigeria forming the Niger Delta.

The river spans up to 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) wide in some areas, with an average depth ranging from 2 to 5 meters (6.6 to 16.4 feet), although deeper sections can be found. It has a moderate to fast flow, featuring rapids and waterfalls. As one of Africa’s largest rivers, it discharges an impressive 5,600 cubic meters of water per second.

The river is fed by several major tributaries, including the River Bani, River Sokoto, River Kaduna, and River Benue, which contribute significantly to its water volume.

BACK TO THE STORY

On July 20, 1796, Park was said to have reached the village of Segou (in modern-day Mali) and saw the River Niger for the first time. According to the story, he was the first European to do so.

How possible could it be that Mungo Park discovered the River Niger? If you have not asked this question before, then you should begin to ponder on it to enhance your quest to unravel the lies behind the whole story.

Before you believe that Mungo Park discovered the River Niger as claimed, have you asked if there were no Africans living as at then?

If you have asked this question, let me satisfy your curiosity by giving you historical background of Africans living then before the purported discovery of the River Niger by Mungo Park.

Far before 1796, the year Park was said to have discovered the River Niger, we had Africans using the river predominantly for agricultural purposes such as farming, trade, and even for cultural purposes such as festivals, etc.

Follow me as we expose more. Don’t get tired of reading.

The River Niger was the lifeblood of the Mali Empire, which flourished between 1235 and 1465. This great river supported the empire’s agriculture by providing water for the irrigation of crops, particularly millet and sorghum, which were staples of the region. The river also played a crucial role in trade and commerce, as it facilitated transportation and communication between the empire’s cities, such as Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenne, all of which became thriving centers of learning and culture.

I believe some of you who are conversant with African history must have heard about the famous Mansa Musa of Mali.

Mansa Musa, the legendary ruler of the Mali Empire, is especially famous for his wealth and influence, much of which was built along the River Niger. During his reign from 1312 to 1337, Mansa Musa expanded the empire’s borders, securing vital trade routes along the river, especially those involved in the lucrative gold and salt trade.

Let us take a look at other tribes living within and using the River Niger for businesses, the Songhai Empire and the Hausa Empire.

The Songhai Empire (1465-1591) capitalized on the strategic location of the Niger River, with rulers such as Askia Muhammad expanding their territory along its banks. Under his leadership, the empire reached its peak, with Timbuktu becoming a world-renowned center of Islamic learning, culture, and trade. The river facilitated the movement of goods, scholars, and ideas, making Songhai one of the most powerful empires in West Africa.

Similarly, the Hausa City-States (1400-1800) thrived due to the River Niger, which connected cities such as Kano, Katsina, and Sokoto. This network enabled vibrant trade routes and cultural exchanges, linking the Hausa states with regions as far as North Africa and the Middle East. The river fostered economic growth, allowing the Hausa states to prosper as key players in trans-Saharan trade, exchanging goods like leather, textiles, and grains.

The historical narrations above are amongst the happenings centuries before the purported discovery of the River Niger by Mungo Park.

I wouldn’t want to bore you with more stories, if not, there are more to expose on the true existence of the Africans and the River Niger.

It is historically inaccurate and culturally insensitive to attribute the ‘discovery’ of the River Niger to Mungo Park, when in fact, African peoples had known and navigated the river for centuries.

With this explanation, it becomes clear that the claim of Mungo Park discovering the River Niger was not only a falsehood but also an affront to Africans.

I’m Michael Iboh.