Consider this perspective: Africa boasts expansive lands and abundant resources. Traditionally, these areas are inhabited by communities of hunters and fishers who practice subsistence farming. Concurrently, both the population and its density remain remarkably low. Absent are cities, as well as signs of civilization and development such as factories, roads, and ports. It appears that, for reasons unknown, there has been a voluntary forgoing of development beyond basic dwellings and the practices of hunting and fishing, a state of affairs that, according to some accounts, has continued for millennia, presenting a curious anomaly.
It appears that these lands have been deserted, and to explain the sparse population, tales have emerged about diminutive fisher-hunters, often called indigenous peoples. It is suggested that these lands were uninhabited before their time, adding to the confusion of those trying to decipher this narrative. Moreover, it seems that the histories of these territories were penned concurrently in a single bureau.
When the topic of a nuclear war in the nineteenth century arises, it often prompts the bewildered question: who was the adversary? The response typically elicits surprise or amusement. Was there a conflict involving Africa? It might appear that there was nothing noteworthy there. More precisely, it’s that there is nothing noteworthy remaining now, and many are unaware of what still exists.
Today, we delve deeper into what we know about Africa. Ancient maps depict numerous lakes and rivers, along which countless cities thrived. Currently, many of these water bodies have vanished, leaving no trace of the ancient cities.
North Africa, once bustling with life, now hosts the planet’s largest desert. The locations that once held the ancient cities of Al-Gushet, Cetra, Los Letem, and Gryon are now marked by vast circular depressions. Moreover, the Richat Structure, also known as the Eye of the Sahara, is a striking formation spanning 50 kilometers in diameter, characterized by its concentric circles and melted stone appearance.
Let’s consider a few more rhetorical questions. It is widely recognized that Africa, abundant in minerals and geographically proximate to Europe, curiously remained largely unexplored until the latter half of the nineteenth century. Rather than focusing on the mineral-rich African continent, which lay almost within reach, the Spaniards embarked on voyages spanning thousands of miles to South America.
The colonization and conquest of South America commenced in 1498, yet the colonization of Africa was postponed for nearly four centuries for reasons that are not entirely clear. Who were the recent inhabitants of Africa? And what became of the continent that was once flourishing but is now largely desertified? African legends may hold some answers.
The people living along the upper Nile River preserve the lore of the enigmatic light-skinned Bachwezi, a tribe that astonished the natives with their advanced knowledge and abilities. They are reputed to have performed feats beyond the capability of ordinary humans.
Legends say that the Bachwezi people arrived in what is now Uganda from the north. They established stone towns and settlements, excavated canals for irrigation, and in certain areas, they carved trenches into the rocks and formed pits similar to mines, some as deep as 70 meters.
The Bachwezi astonished the indigenous people not just with their knowledge but also with their extraordinary skills. According to the legends, they could soar over lakes, scale sheer cliffs, cure any illness, and recount events from the distant past.
Tales of a formidable light-skinned tribe that emerged seemingly from nowhere and vanished just as mysteriously have been handed down through the ages. Thus, it’s understandable that the first Europeans’ arrival in Uganda in 1862 evoked a spectrum of emotions among the locals—from terror to profound reverence—as they were mistaken for the legendary Bachwezi.
The contemporary peoples of Uganda, including the Bakonjo, Toro, and Ganda, regard the Bachwezi as their forebears. Africa is rich with such legends. Could it be conceivable that all these narratives are mere fabrications springing from nothing?
Africa’s surviving ancient edifices warrant particular attention. Even a cursory investigation reveals a wealth of such structures. Consider one of the most extraordinary relics, the African King of the Bell. Its dimensions raise questions: who crafted it, in which workshop, and by what means was it produced?
Consider the Meroe pyramids, numbering around 400, some with melted traces and damaged tops. Then, there are the Ethiopian megaliths, among which the Axum obelisks are most renowned. In 1920, the Italians dismantled an obelisk and transported it to Italy, but it was eventually returned.
Nowadays, its reinstallation involves heavy machinery, whereas the original constructors erected a 24-meter obelisk without cranes, equivalent to the height of a nine-story building.
Also of note are the enigmatic Volumbi Death Burrows, shrouded in mystery and situated on Thanda Hill, 70 kilometers from Mugenia. “Volumbi” translates to “death” in the local Ugandan dialect. The hill is home to over 200 such burrows.
Presently, Thanda Hill is blanketed with dense undergrowth, making it easy to inadvertently stumble into one of these burrows without a guide. They are systematically arranged, each with a diameter of approximately one and a half meters and varying depths ranging from three to seventy meters. These holes are hewn straight into the bedrock, plunging vertically down.
Similar holes have been discovered in other parts of Uganda. Their precise age is uncertain, but local accounts suggest that these structures have been around for a considerable time. These cavities resemble mine shafts in shape, yet only a few locations with such holes show traces of mineral presence, and even then, in minimal amounts. The resources may be limited, and what was accessible might have already been mined and utilized.
Consequently, the mystery persists: who drilled these rocks to depths of tens of meters, and how? The diameter of these holes measures one and a half meters. It is crucial to acknowledge that such rock drilling was purposeful, likely for mining purposes. This task may have been performed by an advanced civilization, about which we still have much to learn.
In 1972, while mining uranium ore at the Oklo mine in Gabon, a French company discovered that the uranium-235 isotope content was lower than normal. A significant shortfall of approximately 200 kilograms of this isotope was noted.
The French Atomic Energy Commission’s experts were alarmed as the missing quantity could potentially produce multiple atomic bombs. Subsequent investigations revealed that the uranium-235 concentration levels at the Oklo mine matched those found in spent nuclear reactor fuel.
In 1975, a scientific conference took place in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, where nuclear physics experts gathered to discuss a peculiar phenomenon. Following extensive deliberations, they agreed to acknowledge the Oklo region as the sole natural nuclear reactor known on Earth. It is estimated that this reactor came into existence 1.8 billion years ago and operated for 500,000 years before it depleted, leaving behind ore as a byproduct of its activity.
Not all conference attendees were in agreement with the decision. Some scientists found it to be implausible and indefensible upon critical analysis, contending that a chain reaction could only be initiated under controlled conditions. They maintained that an improbable convergence of random factors would be necessary for such a reaction to commence, with mathematicians affirming the likelihood of this occurrence as virtually nil.
In nuclear power plants, teams of professionals diligently monitor reactor operations continuously, modulating its modes to avert malfunctions or catastrophic failures. The slightest error could precipitate disasters akin to Chernobyl or Fukushima. This raises the question: is it conceivable that such complex systems operated autonomously for nearly half a million years?
The mine in Gabon doesn’t resemble a natural nuclear reactor; it seems more like a nuclear burial ground, presumably established by an advanced civilization. The site appears to have been meticulously chosen and prepared for this purpose. The basalt “sarcophagus” ensured that no radioactive material escaped into the environment.
The hypothesis that the Oklo mine served as a nuclear waste disposal site is technically more plausible than the natural reactor theory. Yet, embracing this hypothesis leads to further inquiries. If it was indeed a disposal site, there must have been an originating reactor. Where could it be now? Moreover, what became of the civilization that extracted the ore, processed the uranium, constructed a reactor, and ultimately disposed of the spent fuel at Oklo?
Yundum Airport is situated in The Gambia, a nation that was formerly a British colony situated along the tropical Atlantic coast of Africa. Economically, it is among the world’s least developed nations. The Gambia’s industrial sector is quite underdeveloped, confined mainly to producing peanut butter, beer, soft drinks, and garments.
The country boasts an authentic international airport, Yundum, with a runway stretching 3,600 meters. It adheres to the strictest international standards, enabling it to accommodate aircraft of any weight class.
The inhabitants of Gambia did not construct the runway entirely; they merely overlaid the pre-existing stone slabs, which had been cleared of soil, with asphalt and added markings. Close examination of satellite imagery reveals that the central section of Yundum Airport’s runway is in active use, flanked by non-operational areas paved with lightly colored slabs of an unusual sandy brown hue.
The observation hints at an ancient civilization that constructed a lengthy and broad road from basalt slabs in Africa. These slabs were meticulously cut, transported, and placed with precision. The purpose of such roads is still a mystery. Today, analogous structures serve as runways, leading to the fascinating speculation: might the technology for flying machines have been present in ancient times? The vimanas, described in ancient Indian scriptures, are an example of such purported aerial devices.
Almost sixty years ago, prisoners at a facility on Luzira Hill, close to Uganda’s capital city of Kampala, were digging foundations for new structures. In the course of this labor, a prisoner’s pickaxe struck a solid item, which was revealed to be the head of a sculpture. This object was a segment of a ceramic figure. Subsequently, parts of the statue’s body and limbs were also unearthed in the vicinity. The laborers halted their work, believing the sculpture to be an ill omen.
Particularly striking was the head of the statue unearthed: it featured a straight chin, a long nose, and a hairstyle that bore a striking resemblance to a judge’s wig, topped with something akin to a pillow. In the same location as the so-called Luzir Man, numerous pottery shards were also discovered, which scientists estimate to be 5-6 centuries old, roughly the same age as the statue.
Scientists have observed that these fragments bear a resemblance to pottery shards discovered in the early 20th century at another enigmatic site, Fort Muguenyi. Situated on the southern shores of the Katonge River in western Uganda, Fort Muguenyi preserves remnants of ancient fortifications and a network of deep trenches carved into the stone, extending six kilometers in length, akin to those found on the island of Malta and in northern Peru.
Legend has it that Mughenyi Fort was a residence of the Bachwezi, known as the mysterious white people. The initial archaeological excavations at Mughenyi took place in the early 1920s, leading to the discovery of pottery shards that were later sent to the British Museum. In close proximity, scientific teams uncovered remnants of irrigation systems, which appear to have been constructed by highly skilled builders.
Scientists have compared the remains of irrigation facilities found with similar structures in Sri Lanka, which date back over two thousand years. Moreover, a mysterious clay cylinder adorned with undecipherable symbols was unearthed during archaeological excavations at the fort.
The history of Greater Zimbabwe is particularly noteworthy. In 1867, the German geologist Karl Mauch discovered an ancient settlement and a series of structures that would later be recognized as Great Zimbabwe. The term “Zimbabwe” translates to “stone houses” in the local tribe’s language.
The discovered structure profoundly impressed the scientist with its size and unique architectural design. A grand stone wall, measuring at least 250 meters in length, approximately 10 meters in height, and up to 5 meters wide at the base, encircled the settlement. This likely served as the domicile of the ruler of this ancient region in the past.
While Mauch discovered household items typical of the local culture in the ruins of Greater Zimbabwe, he could not conceive that Africans had constructed this architectural complex. Traditionally, local tribes built their homes and structures from clay, timber, and dry grass, making the use of stone as a building material appear atypical.
Archaeological discoveries of Arab and Persian origin suggest that Zimbabwe was connected with the wider world. British archaeologist Roger Summers, who researched the Zimbabwean mines in 1958, deduced that the ore mining techniques were likely influenced by those used in India.
The ruins of Zimbabwe are not alone; near the port of Novosafala in Mozambique, there are ruins of several structures that are similar but smaller. It is generally agreed that the elliptical wall was not for defense. Currently, over 400 monuments of this ancient civilization have been identified.
The purpose of the internal walls and passages remains a mystery, as the design suggests there was no roof. The role of the conical tower, adorned with a zigzag pattern, is also unknown. The masonry style bears a striking resemblance to that of the walls in the city of Gebel Barkal in Western Sudan, prompting reflections on the distinct architectural style of Zimbabwe and how it diverges from European styles.
Can one conceive that such intricate architectural structures were the work of so-called “savages”? It was only those who perceived the builders as primitive who could have erected and positioned the massive stone blocks. Scientists as early as 1934 posited a link between Mugenia and the ruins of Great Zimbabwe.
Comparing the architectural designs of Ugandan and Zimbabwean structures, along with the so-called Luzira Man discovery near Uganda’s capital, has uncovered numerous parallels. These include semicircular or semi-elliptical formations of small courtyards next to the central building’s walls and akin wall construction techniques.
Recent excavations in Mugenia have unearthed pottery fragments that bear a striking resemblance to those found in Greater Zimbabwe. Remarkably, a cylinder akin to the one discovered in Mugenia was also found among the ruins of Greater Zimbabwe, mirroring a similar find from earlier excavations in Cyprus.
Gebel Barkal is situated in the midst of the Saharan Desert, a location challenging to access without dependable transportation. The remnants of this city are nestled among the desolate summits of Mount Gebelfurnung. A winding path, bordered by boulders, ascends to the city, culminating at the peak, a thousand feet high.
At the base of the mountain, flanking the path, lie the ruins of palaces, streets, and edifices from one of Africa’s largest vanished cities, now shrouded in shrubbery. It raises the question: could the descendants of the enigmatic light-skinned people of Africa have attained a technological prowess enabling them to produce nuclear weapons, considering the continent’s rich uranium deposits found in places like Bura, the Transvaal, and Rhodesia?
