African diaspora: Africans make up significant percentages of global population

Audio By Vocalize

Pedro Alonso Nino, a Spaniard of Africa descent, served as the captain of Christopher Columbus's ship on his voyage to the Americas in 1492. The first slave ship to Africa was called Jesus of Lubeck. It belonged to Queen Elizabeth I of England who, in 1540, hired it out to John Hawkins. Hawkins led voyages to Africa and the West Indies to acquire slaves. That is how the forced migration of Africans out of Africa to the west began.

Africans' contact with the rest of the world dates long before the advent of Christopher Columbus. There are three recorded Popes of the Catholic church who were Africans. They led the church from Rome in the early days of Christianity. Pope Victor I served for 11 years, Pope Miltiades served for four years. Pope Gelasius was African but was born in Rome. All the three former African Popes are saints.