In classical and medieval Arabic sources, West African trade is most commonly associated with gold, which was exchanged along trans-Saharan routes that crisscrossed the desert in patterns later echoed by colonial “mine-to-coast” railways.
I believe Leo Africanus might have offered the first written description of kola, writing of a fruit "variety like chestnuts that grow on large trees. However, these are a little bitter and grow far inland from the [Niger] river; they are called goro in their language" ([1526]/2024 at 1.27(10)). Lewicki (1974) found no earlier reference in Arabic accounts, and if your sources haven't either, then ibn Muhammad al-Wazzan would still be the first.
I have found the reference made by Africanus in an older translation of his general description of Africa (although it's just one sentence), but I still can't find al-Umari's reference.
Al-'Umari's reference seems to be yet more abstract: you've seen Lovejoy (1980)'s brief quotation from Mauny (1961). Mauny's full quoted translation from al-'Umari is "des fruits sauvages semblables à tous ceux des arbres élevés dans les jardins, avec la variété de leurs espèces ; mais ils sont âcres, désagreables au goût et les Noirs seuls les mangent ; c'est la nourriture de la plupart d'entre eux." I don't have Mauny's bibliography, but this is from a 1927 selection from al-'Umari, in what language I know not; printed selections in Arabic, Romance, and Germanic languages proliferated in the colonial era. The first full modern Arabic edition of Masālik al-abṣār fī mamālik al-amṣār dates to 1988f, but I don't have access to it.
If you have it, the relevant quote is most likely from al-'Umari's entry on Mali. Otherwise, if you have access to Mauny's bibliography, you could trace the quote that way. But I don't know if it's worth the candle to you.
I'm a heavy soda drinker and had heard of the kola nut, but the different spelling in English obscured the connection...
thank you, I learned something!
I believe Leo Africanus might have offered the first written description of kola, writing of a fruit "variety like chestnuts that grow on large trees. However, these are a little bitter and grow far inland from the [Niger] river; they are called goro in their language" ([1526]/2024 at 1.27(10)). Lewicki (1974) found no earlier reference in Arabic accounts, and if your sources haven't either, then ibn Muhammad al-Wazzan would still be the first.
I have found the reference made by Africanus in an older translation of his general description of Africa (although it's just one sentence), but I still can't find al-Umari's reference.
Al-'Umari's reference seems to be yet more abstract: you've seen Lovejoy (1980)'s brief quotation from Mauny (1961). Mauny's full quoted translation from al-'Umari is "des fruits sauvages semblables à tous ceux des arbres élevés dans les jardins, avec la variété de leurs espèces ; mais ils sont âcres, désagreables au goût et les Noirs seuls les mangent ; c'est la nourriture de la plupart d'entre eux." I don't have Mauny's bibliography, but this is from a 1927 selection from al-'Umari, in what language I know not; printed selections in Arabic, Romance, and Germanic languages proliferated in the colonial era. The first full modern Arabic edition of Masālik al-abṣār fī mamālik al-amṣār dates to 1988f, but I don't have access to it.
If you have it, the relevant quote is most likely from al-'Umari's entry on Mali. Otherwise, if you have access to Mauny's bibliography, you could trace the quote that way. But I don't know if it's worth the candle to you.
I have Levitzon and Spaulding's English translation of al-Umari's description of Mali, but I couldn't find it there. (Medieval West Africa
Views from Arab Scholars and Merchants)
Thanks for publishing this highly informative and excellent article, I have learnt a lot from it 😃👍
Thank you too.
Isaac Samuel how can I learn about African history starting from prehistory to modern day ? I’m interested in this