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Replying to:

I would appreciate your opinion on the following:-
In my book, The Phantom Voyagers,* I explore a subject that, for years, has been woefully neglected by Africa's historians. It is: that, centuries ago, Indonesians influenced African culture in a number of important ways.
This seems to arouse two opposite reactions:


On the one hand: Strong interest among people with enquiring minds who want to know more about African and, by extension, Black History, and are prepared to look at the evidence.

On the other hand: Rejection bordering on scorn, among those who assume that all Africa's historical problems have long since been solved, and that any notion of Indonesians travelling inland, and even sailing round to the west coast, in ancient times is nonsense. (The latter, of course, have not looked at the evidence!).


If it could be shown that the origins of some prominent aspects of African culture lay in Southeast Asia, would this not be of historical importance? If the present teaching was shown to be wrong in some important ways, should this be discussed? Or should we take the easy road, accept the present teaching as 'gospel', and let sleeping historians lie?
If you have a view, I would be very grateful if you would click the 'Reply' key and let me know very briefly what you think.
Thanks very much. Robert Dick-Read
*"The Phantom Voyagers: Evidence of Indonesian Settlement in Africa in Ancient Times"
ISBN 0954923103 Website. www.phantomvoyagers.com