We, Afrikans in the Ma’afa, are living monuments. Yet we don’t realize it. Let’s argue that we are now in a time where there is a need for us to re-establish our identity and reconnect with our ancestors and what they achieved. Not only reading up on their life, times and legacy, but visit the places where they have been.

I am going to make 4 suggestions out of the many options of places I think are worth a visit.

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Timbuktu – Mali

Timbuktu founded between the 10th and 12th century in Mali and situated on the banks of the river Niger, this city became synonymous with remote and distant. Timbuktu is, however far more than that and to those who lived during it’s pinnacle this association would be somewhat of an insult.In its heyday, Timbuktu was the center of learning much like the ancient Egyptian cities and later Alexandria. Timbuktu’s university was renowned during the ages of the Moors, who were Afrikans and from the region Mali, Senegal and Mauritania. The University of Timbuktu held over 700.000 manuscripts, which are now being restored. Manuscripts with ancient text holding the histories of continent Afrika aswell as knowledge varying from Astronomy, Mathematics to Medicine and more. Timbuktu history is a rich Afrikan history and forms the first link to uncovering, recovering and restoring our original identity. It is known, for example, that Moors fled from persecution in Spain to Timbuktu and neighboring cities. These Moors included Yahudim (erroneously called Jews), for more visit wikipedia’s Jews of Bilad as Sudan. When these Yahudim were forced to convert to Islam they subsequently left Timbuktu and settled in West Afrika. More reading from contemporary witnesses on the history concerning Timbuktu include Leo Africanus.

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Cordoba, Al Andalus – Spain
The city of Cordoba is an ancient city dating back to ca 30,000 BCE. It was  renamed by Hamilcar Barca, the father of Hannibal Barca, who named the city Karth-Juba after a slain Numidian General and ruler of Numidia (ancient North-Afrikan Kingdom). Karth-Juba was conquered by the Romans and became part of the Roman Republic (Hispania Ulterior), and the Roman Empire (Hispania Baetica).  When the Moors came to Spain, around 711 CE, the name of the city changed to Qurtubah. Cordoba became legendary in Europe. Such was its fame, a contemporary German Nun and Poet felt compelled to make this statement about Cordoba:The Saxon nun Hroswitha, famous in the last half of the 10th century for her Latin poems and dramas, called it the Ornament of the World.Places to visit in Cordoba: The Grand Mosque of Cordoba and, as this ties to our history, the old south-western town called Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, formerly a royal property and the seat of the Inquisition. The Inquisition includes the expulsion of the Moors from Spain. Much documentation exists of trials and for your edification I’d refer to one of many Papal Bulls named Dum Diversas (issued 1453).

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Alhambra, Granada – Spain

Alhambra or Calat Alhambra means “the red one” and was build in the region Al Andalus. Build in 889 as a small fortress that fell in ruins. In the 11th century renovated and rebuilt in its current state by the Moorish emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar and was converted into a royal palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada. The mesmerizing beauty of Alhambra, still stuns today. And literally takes you back when wandering through the now empty halls and corridors. In it’s splendor this palace was praised in Moorish literature as “a pearl set between emeralds”. The palace was surrounded by a park, consisting of roses, orange trees and myrtle.I can go on about Alhambra, the perfect symmetry and harmony of the Palace. But, it should be experienced in person. One of my recommendations for Afrikans to go and experience for themselves. This is the legacy our ancestors left to us. In strange hands now, but still.

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Elephantine, Aswan – Egypt
To add another historical site, which links to our roots I propose Elephantine now part of the city Aswan. Elephantine used to be called Yebu or Abu, the city lays now in ruins. The city lay on the border between Nubia and Egypt. Archaeological finds proof, this city held an army and it is said that these men were contracted to guard the border between Nubia and Egypt.The city Abu/Yebu held at one time two temples. One dedicated to the Egyptian Deity Khnum and the other dedicated to the Hebrew Deity Yahu. Many attempts have been made to cover up the temple to the latter Deity as it would start a controversial discussion into the existence of a second temple and the “lost” tribes. There were letters found at Elephantine, supplicating Darius II of Persia to give permission to restore the temple of Yahu at Yebu. The letter in question is called “Petition to Bagoas” who was the governor of Judah during the occupation by Persia. The letters and many others that were found, are now pulled off-line and no longer accessible for personal study. However it may be clear that Elephantine, or Yebu/Abu was occupied by Yahudim who had been there since the rule of Manassah of Yahudah, and were commissioned to guard the border with their own troops. I would make this my last recommendation for a visit.

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I’ve placed two cities in Spain-Europe on this list. I included them for their ties to our history and identity. Spain plays a greater role in the Transatlantic slave-trade, then currently acknowledged. Mistakenly overlooked by many Pan-Afrikans which causes us to not fully comprehend our current situation.

Further I’d like to add, that it is not exclusively Amerikan Afrikans who are suffering from loss of identity, Afrikans in Brazil, and Jamaica etc., suffer from the same disconnect. As we were stolen and scattered into the colonies of the Europeans, the system under which we are enslaved, has and does put in much effort to keep our history and identity locked from us. The intend is to keep it locked forever.

I’d offer these places not only as a travel destination but as a gateway for research into our history as well.