Hidden histories of Black geographers

Very little is known about the African people without whom no European expedition could have been successful. However, through the journals and accounts of European explorers alongside evidence of African migrations, it is possible to recognise these ‘ordinary men’ as ‘men of exploration’ who made significant contributions to exploration projects and to geographical knowledge.

Some of them have featured in past projects on the Society’s Collections such as Crossing Continents, Connecting Communities; Rediscovering African Geographies; and Hidden Histories of Exploration. These projects used archival materials to recover stories of those previously ignored, forgotten or deliberately excluded from the record, and their stories can be used to trouble, complicate and undermine traditional narratives of European exploration. Their involvement also raises questions around agency and recognition, particularly as we untangle the close and complicated relationship between European exploration and colonial exploitation. 

Note about captions

Within the Society’s photographic collection there are some historical images (and image titles or captions) which are recognised as containing unacceptable forms of language, or present image content that is considered inappropriate. In such cases, as part of our Collections policy, the Society maintains access to those images and descriptors as a source of context and information for researchers, recognising that the historical language used or image subjects in themselves do not reflect the Society’s contemporary position as an organisation wholly committed to principles of equality and diversity.

Bombay Africans

Originally forced into slavery in Africa, the group who came to be known as the 'Bombay Africans' were liberated by the British Royal Navy from Arab slaving boats and taken to Bombay (India) or Karachi (Pakistan). Hundreds of Bombay Africans subsequently returned to Africa, either independently or with the aid of the missionary societies. Sir Henry Bartle Frere, Governor of the Bombay Presidency and President of the Royal Geographical Society (1873-74), suggested that British explorers recruiting staff for African expeditions should employ these returned African men and women. Of this group at least 30 can be identified as having taken part in African expeditions.

Sidi Mubarak Bombay

(c.1820-1885)

Taken to Asia as a slave, Mubarak gained his freedom in the Bombay Presidency. He later returned to Africa and worked for many of the 19th century British explorers active in Africa, including Richard Francis Burton, John Hanning Speke, James Grant, and Henry Morton Stanley.

As a result, Mubarak became the most widely travelled man in Africa. Over the course of his career, he covered some 9,600km (5,970 miles) overland, much of this on foot. He and John Hanning Speke traced the source of the Nile. Mubarak became the only recorded person to travel both the Nile from its source in Lake Victoria in Uganda to Cairo, and to cross Africa from Zanzibar in the east, to Angola on the west coast. In addition, he also sailed the length of the Red Sea and around the Cape of Good Hope. Mubarak spoke a number of languages, a skill vital to Speke who could not speak Arabic, Kiswahili or any other African languages.

For his role with the Speke expeditions, the Royal Geographical Society awarded Mubarak a silver medal and provided him with a pension in 1876.

After retirement Mubarak worked for the Church Missionary Society. He died in 1885.

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Susi travelled widely inside and outside Africa. His most notable achievement was co-founding a ‘station’ in the Congo called Leopoldville, which later became Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Susi worked alongside David Livingstone for 20 years on several expeditions. He accompanied Livingstone on his final expedition in 1873, and was one of the men that constructed the Kitanda (a stretcher) to carry the dying explorer. It was Susi who carved Livingstone’s name on the bark of the tree that marked his grave, and which is now part of the Society's Collections. Through his role in carrying Livingstone’s body and papers to the coast, and recounting the expedition to others, Susi preserved the final stages of Livingstone’s life for posterity.

In 1881, Susi joined Henry Morton Stanley on an expedition up the Congo River. Afterwards, it is believed that he sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to reach Zanzibar. Between 1883 and 1891 he worked with the Universities Mission to Central Africa as a caravan leader. 

To recognise his contributions, Susi was awarded a medal by the Royal Geographical Society. He died in 1891.

James Chuma

(c.1850-1882)

James Chuma spent half of his 32 years on five expeditions. Eight of these years were spent with David Livingstone and, like Susi, he also travelled to London after Livingstone’s funeral. With Susi, he worked with Livingstone's friends and family to establish the legacy of the Scottish explorer (see image below). Chuma was held in high esteem by all British explorers he worked with and was known for his reliability, resourcefulness and commitment.

In 1881 he was presented with a silver medal by the Royal Geographical Society and a sword, in recognition of his contributions.

After Livingstone’s death in 1873, Chuma worked for the Universities Mission to Central Africa in Zanzibar. In 1879-80 he joined Joseph Thomson and Keith Johnston on the Royal Geographical Society expedition to the Central Lakes. Chuma was baptised in 1865 when he added James to his name.

He died in 1882 in Zanzibar, with his death noted by Joseph Thomson:

A loss, however, I felt more immediately than that of Dr. Steere, was that of the well-known Chuma whom I hoped to have again with me as head-man. He also had died after a short but stirring life, having in his own special way, done so much to open up Africa to science and communication.