I always believed the West African Empires, namely the Moors, and the Malians (the richest empire at the time) ventured over to South and Central America. I believe the Moors took that knowledge with them to Spain & Portugal, the main European countries they controlled and they shared it with Whites. I find it interesting that....by coincidence....the same year the Moors get defeated, Columbus sets sail from "Iberia" There are wind currents that will carry you straight to South America from Africa People have made this journey on wooden rafts recently I obviously haven't researched this heavily though
Ivan Van Sertima wrote about this extensively. he also wrote about the oral traditions in Mali that talk about the fact there were trips made by people from Mali to the West towards foreign lands. Mansa Musa's older brother is said to have led the largest of these expeditions. he took thousands of men and women with him in hundreds of boats. Mansa Musa made his legendary trek to Mecca as a way to try and up his older brother.
They Came Before Columbus by Ivan van Sertima is REQUIRED READING imo for every black person in america and beyond. The book is a treasure of information that white people have tried to destroy.