Mysterious Explorer: Solving the Puzzle of an African Explorer in America - 180 Years Before Columbus

Dr. Ronald Stewart will talk about his groundbreaking, but controversial, research into a previously unknown 14th century explorer of New Mexico and the American Southwest by the name of Abu Bakr II. He is known to have given up the emperorship of the powerful Mali Empire in order to explore the Western Hemisphere, according to his successor Emperor Musa. Abu Bakr’s caravan proceeded up the Rio Grande and Rio Chama Valleys, over the Continental Divide, down Cañon Largo and San Juan/Animas Valleys, then through Southern Utah and Arizona. As a Prehistorian, Dr. Stewart has relied on solid evidence such as Mandinka language inscriptions, “show-and -tell petroglyphs” and Native American myth and art in addition to archeological reports and Spanish documents. The surprises that Dr. Stewart will reveal are the unique method of transportation and probable ultimate end result of the imperial expedition.

Biography:  Dr. Ronald Stewart was born August 19, 1939 in Buffalo, New York. His degrees include a BA from State University of New York at Albany, a MA from Eastern New Mexico University, and a Ph. D. from University of New Mexico. He was an officer in the United States Air Force 1962-1965. As A Minuteman Missile Launch Officer he held a Top Secret Crypto Clearance. He taught Social Studies for two years at his alma mater. He has been Coordinator of New Mexico State Monuments, Director of San Juan County Archeological Center (Salmon Ruins Museum), Western New Mexico University Museum, and two US Army Museums. He is the author of Monuments of New Mexico and Mysterious Explorer and historical researcher since he retired thirty years ago.