The Manuscripts and Intellectual Legacy of Timbuktu 

I need more current lectures from Robin. He’s the next up in a long line of inspirational black historians/ intellectuals. Excellent hour spent listening.

FINALLY Mr Robin Walker has found somewhat of a mainstream audience!!… I have followed his lectures for years! He has also written several books… I encourage each and everyone to not only share this lecture , but to also research his numerous other lectures( those not so mainstream)

Master class, now we know the African Americans come from a cultured heritage which was diluted or say forcibly drained. Thank you for the knowledge 👍

I am so glad to hear someone speaking about the rich culture that existed in Africa.

This is more accurate and elaborate than most North African historical presentations I've experienced

This must certainly be an adopted curriculum in schools and Universities all over the beloved World

I enjoyed and appreciated the scholarship and determined composure of Mr. Walker. I especially appreciated the lack of frill in his presentation. He also made sure to present loads of references. I have been a student of African history for close to 40 years, and witnessed personally the lectures of Dr. John H. Henrik Clarke, Ivan Van Sertima, Dr.Yosef Ben Jochannan, Professor James Smalls, Dr. Wade Nobles and many others. Mr. Walker is on par with many of the previous excellent scholars of African history and legacy. Also he was unapologetic in his presentation and clearly was not seeking validation. This I found refreshing. Thank You Mr. Walker and I thank Gresham College for allowing a platform for the presentation.

Robin Walker delivers a classic lecture here. Give that man a raise!

Great and insightful lecture. I pray wealthy Africans can fund the translation and preservation of these ancient documents.

Thanks for the offerings of Gresham college. Clearly the extent of the vandalism is only now coming to light. Thank you for the excellent presentation and the Intellectual prowess of the presenter. I don't think it is too much of a stretch to saw there is a systematic plot to erase all evidence of African scholarship and achievements and it is still in force today if you understand what IS tried to do in Timbuktu in as recently as 2012. The need for a concerted joining of our efforts to expose the villany and reducate the world with particular emphasis on the youths of the continent of Africa is beyond question. Incredible! There is no other comment more fitting at this time. INCREDIBLE!

What to be learned of African history and scholarship is clearly foundational to western knowledge and modern educational forms. It is so refreshing to be given a new perspective on the history and intellectual inheritance gained from the great empires of Africa. As western education continues to fail and fall in it's duty to educate it's citizens and raise people up, out of poverty and stupidity, it should be a beacon of hope to know by African descendants that they hail from one of the worlds most celebrated cultures of learning and intellectual scholarship. This is the secret that white dominated western societies didn't want the world to know; their intellectual knowledge is descended from far older black African scholarship. This lecture by Mr. Walker is to be commended for eroding the lies of white perception. Also impressive are the correct pronunciations of the proper names mentioned in the lecture. So often butchered by western orators, Robin's dictation was most refreshing. More please!

In 2005, some inhabitants showed me and some other students the ancient manuscripts kept by their families. One of this family lived in front of the French explorer René Caillé house in Timbuktu.

This is one of the best presentation I've ever come across on RU-vid. Well done Prof!

I love the way he dives straight in without preamble

I studied under this man for three yrs and need to go back to yr 1 study. Mind blowing information

Very, very many thanks for this.I knew so little of it. Apart from the amazing narrative, the parallel of Latin to European scholarship and Arabic to African, helps explain a lot.

France colonial cult era was brutal

This was truly an enlightening and awe-inspiring moment. Yet, also very poignant and bittersweet to listen to. You see I have older (now deceased) relatives who used to tell me when, I was younger that when they were coming along in school in the '20's, '30's, and 40's, here in America, they used to routinely, get lessons and hear discussions, about the true history of North Africa. I'm thinking of one older aunt in particular who could rattle off the names of great African chiefs and warlords like it was everyday lingo. However, by the mid to late 1950's textbooks and teachings on the subjects had all but eradicated. So much, so that by the time I started going to school in, the late '60's and early 1970's nary a word of it was ever mentioned at all. Looking back I would suspect that social, political, and economic values had changed over the decades. Socially -- it was no longer deemed 'hip' to, "talk about that 'old stuff' ". It happened in the past. Ergo, let's leave it where we found it. It was no longer useful to discuss. Politically -- it was seen as unseemly to delve into the upheavals and chaos of so distant a land that 'had nothing to do with us'. Economically -- the period betw the mid 60's to the middle of the 1970''s was in full "Hippy, (Viet) 'Nam / "Flower Power" (fist bump) mode that people no longer saw such topics, as relevant. Why talk about a land and a people so far removed from, our own 'civilization'? There was no need. As such it was no longer necessary to spend time or waste precious extra book space or pages on, irrelevant material. So, the material was just cut out of the curriculum. Evidence of this 'casting off' of knowledge is evident right through to today. Sadly children of today hardly know what a textbook really is. Schools in general barely, distribute textbooks nor, do they freely give out expanded knowledge to our nation's youth, anymore. In fact in many school textbooks and additional learning material is oftentimes locked away in storage closets and hidden rooms. I should know.....I've seen this trend first-hand. I..........am a teacher.

Came to take a peek at what the lecture was really about, ended up listening till the end. Interesting topic, excellent delivery.

Real Black history, finally 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🙏🏾❤🙏🏾✊🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥

I like this very much. Most illumunating for African people like myself. I am a non-historian professionally but intensely seeking to understand our long term indigenous African origins in various facets of our lives and experiences. One thing I wish simeone could assist with is the linakges with other regions of Africa. The linkage with the Sudan, the bantu migrations all the way to the southern tip of the African continent. In other words, the unity of Afrcian history and histories is essential. Take g for example the place of gold and ivory in the history of the last millenia of the whole continent would be interesting. I wish to be directed to this kind of literature. We do know that over the last two millenia and more, there was much more inter-African sharing of cultural heritage matters. Most illuminating. Thanks

Extremely well presented history of Timbuctoo, well researched and is a treasure in the annuls of human achievement. Specially the presence of scholars from Andalusia, where a library at Alhambra had a collection of 400,000 books on science, mathematics and medicine etc. It is logical that some of these valuable books ended up in Timbuctoo and may still can be found. Scholars from Oxford and Cambridge are searching these books, frantically. They are the product of the Abbasid period, when Muslim scholars preserved and improved upon knowledge from India and China. If these books are still preserved in Mali, under the sand or some where then a treasure trove can be retrieved.

Astounding lecture on a fascinating subject. I first came across Mansa Musa at the Haaj Exhibition at the British Museum. I was simply blown away by the thriving rich Intellectual tradition of the Malian empire.

Thank you Robin , It would be great to see you back with more lectures.

this Timbkutu lecture is mind-boggling thank you

Really enjoyed this and hope to see this area of scholarship expand. An excellent scholar and speaker ✨🙏✨

The World Digital Library in collaboration with the Library of Congress digitized several hundred of these manuscripts which can easily be accessed through their online portals. I was personally involved with this project.

A difficult ask to cover such a huge time period and subject in one hour but well worth the effort. Nice to be able to hear the speaker as well. So many of these types of lectures have poor sound quality. Universities seem to be worst.

❤️❤️❤️❤️This is one of the best news for our continent and people. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

As always an excellent lecture. I'm proud to say that's I teacher. Well done teach!

Thank you very much Mr. Robin Walke for this most enlightening lecture with your amazing erudition!

Wow beautiful my eyes 👀 are wide open and so much knowledge and learning we need to learn about history of black civilization . Thanks 🙏🏽 for your speaking hope you get invited to speak all around the world 🌍 thanks 🙏🏽

I do hope history, literature, and all this material is preserved as you say. This is wonderful, as for so long it was said that nearly all of this treasure was lost.

Wonderful to hear this part of African history be told.

Robin you do us proud.

EXCELLENT! This is "LIGHT",... Literally! The Colonization of Lands and Information,... along with the Destruction of Indigenous Cultures and Societies, are the Epitome of the Crimes Against Hue-Manity. There SO MUCH information, evidence and knowledge of the Greatness/Richness of the History Allover the Continent of Africa! (Give Deep Thought to WHY This Would Have Been Done)

Amazing stuff! Thanks for enlightening us with this knowledge.

Great Lecture and awesome lecturer!

Amazing, educative and informative. Please keep these lectures coming!!!

Brilliant Heritage Ancient Ghania the vandals of Colonial Europe and the utter destruction of Black Power, intellectual autonomy, what a great discovery Timbuktu. Wonderful narration

What a lecture Bravo Monsieur 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

Great presentation, very insightful

Many of the greatest manuscripts from Timbuktu are in private hands inside well kept and guarded wooden treasure chest along the road to Timbuktu. You go along the road towards Timbuktu and ask I believe you will find all the records that you were looking for

Great lectures, never realized the importance of Timbuktu before, always heard of the name but not the significant of it.

Timbuktu is a beautiful place. I seen with my eyes one of the first bibles translated from Greek to Arabic. Other books are buried in the sand for safe keeping.

Young black children need to learn this history it is up to you to educate the young people they will not will you Share share

A trillion thumbs up !

Mr.Walker, I am fascinated by your presentation.

Remakable. Essential Learning. Thank you, Sir; a true Scholar

Very illuminating, thank you very much!!

So many historical information packed in 1hr with a deep clarity on many topics at the same time. Thanks a lot sr!

I was just watching, "when the Sahara was green." I look forward ro this talk.

Many thanks for this. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute and would definitely be buying some of the books mentioned to learn more.

Excellent presentation; clear, consice and extremely interesting and enlightening to me as a newcomer to African history. Thank you!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Ink indeed truly never fades and it's veracity will always produce authenticity

Many thanks for this excellent presentation.

Extraordinary lecture.

This lecture answered questions I had for decades!!!!!

Bare in mind that during the recen "war"in Mali, The Dutch took documents from Timbuktu to the University of Leiden! As I was told, it happened in secrecy because they were afraid that the "terrorists" would destroyed it! Be Aware Africa scholars, and Africa's population! Many African Artefacts are still in Europe, and they will not return it!

Thank you sir for this lecture!

Superb Dear African Historian well executed 👍🏿🌹

Tremendous lecture. Thank you, Professor

I really needed this. Thanks!

Much appreciation for making available here Mr. Wright's research and analysis in this lecture. I am hoping you might consider a part II to allow him to share more of his explorations and analysis; thus, I am happy to subscribe.

Excellent material and presentation

I just want to thank Mr. Walker and Gresham college for a outstanding presentation. This presentation have turn the lights on. The revelation of knowledge ancient African literature and culture just truly amazing.

Bravo Mr. Walker! Nice to see you shining, I’ve been a fan for many years✊🏾❤️✊🏾

A lecture for the ages. It was fresh footprints on my impressionable mind. I am inspired to press my brain.

THIS MAN... I have learned more in an hour than 22yrs of living in Senegal. My greatest respect Mr Walker - thank you thank you thank you! Sineta George, SenegalStyle BnB Homestay & SenegalStyle TOURS!

I just randomly came across this video. I greatly appreciate his erudition and concise and unopinionated dissemination of a part of West African History we hear very little of. Bless this brother, he's a great find. 🙏🏽🤗💕

This brings tears to my eyes. What happened to us?

They cut our noses of to spit our faces Thank you Professor

Very interesting presentation, Mr Robin Walker

Fascinating and a great presentation. Thank you.

An outstanding lecture

Ali Ould Sidi former Mayor of Timbuktu. Thank you.

Alliance of Sultan Almansor & QE 1 😳 invaded & destroyed Songhai....that blew my mind. Thank you sir for such an insightful and informative lecture on West African history👏🏽👏🏽

It's often said that the victors write the history. I doubt that it's the case even most of the time. A prime example is the butchery of the Persians by Jenghis Khan. The Mongols of the time were illiterate,unlike the Persians. The literate write the history. That's what renders the scholarship of Timbuktu to be of such inestimable value. The ignorant overlords of every age do their best to destroy "book learnin' ". . Hug a Librarian today..

Another excellent presenter from Robin Walker The Black History Man

The comment section so far hasn't failed my expectation. The usual angry ''professors'' of African studies are already on rampage wishing nobody listened to this lecture ha ha ha.

Thank you. Outstanding.

Great lecture. Very imformative and great head for names and details. Very impressed..

this was brilliant

Excellent information. 🦋 Thank you Mr. Walker.

Powerpoint presentations make the best youtube videos. What a powerful lecture.

Excellent presentation!

Fascinating!

Interesting, thank you.

What an AMAZING lecture. 🥰🥰🥰🇯🇲

Thank you Mr. Walker

This was so helpful.

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Bravo! Encore! Encore! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Finding black history today is like pulling a string from a knitted dress.the more you pull ,the more the dress unravel. Loving this new old history .🥰

Fantastic Lecture! Thank you BROTHER!!!!

This was amazing work! Great research done! Thank you!

This is amazing I love our history ❤ 💜 ♥ 💙

Very interesting and informative

ROBIN WALKER, GREATNESS!

Dang. When he said he concluded the lecture, it felt like it had just begun. I wanted more.

Enlightening. Brilliantly presented. Would love to see more this content. Thank you Dr. Walker. Thank you Gresham.