FORGOTTEN AFRICA.
To many people, African civilization began with the Portuguese 15th century voyage around the coast. Contrary to that,there was a trans-Sahara trade and voyage using camels, horses in exchange of goods and ideas over long distances. This Era began around prehistoric times beginning from 7000BC.Cattle were introduced to the Central Sahara (Ahaggar) from 4000 to 3500 BC. Remarkable rock paintings (dated 3500 to 2500 BC) in places that are currently very dry, portray flora and fauna that are not present in the modern desert environment.Igbos ukwu was a prehistoric site before the Era of written records.As civilizations rise and fall,the relics were buried in the sand of time.However the culture was transmitted down to the present inhabitants for over 1300 years. Igbo ukwu is strategically located in close approximation to the Niger river which runs up north down to timbuktu .

Timbuktu was a regional trade center in medieval times, where caravans met to exchange salt from the Sahara Desert for gold, ivory, and slaves from the Sahel, which could be reached via the nearby Niger River. Indeed, igbo ukwu was the origin and centre of civilization of where became southern Nigeria before the era of written records or Portuguese voyage at the coast.

https://journals.openedition.org/etudesafricaines/17167

We have read it mr history.