(upbeat music)
(whimsical music)
- [Narrator] Africa, as early as the 15th century,
thriving European trading posts are set up along
the western coast of Africa.
They each were two distinctive characters, their names
tell us what they mainly traded.
Gold Coast, the Ivory Coast.
(dramatic music, man grunts, growls)
- Get out.
- [Narrator] And the Slave Coast.
(laughs)
But the interior of the Continent remained a mystery,
the jungle, the climate.
And there were tropical fevers, and sometimes the hostility
of the natives.
There were insects and wild animals and so many barriers
and dangers to discourage exploration.
(gasps)
Then technical progress made in the 19th century
would give the Europeans the encouragement and the means
to explore the dark continent, in England, sir Joseph Banks
founds the Association for the Exploration of Africa.
- One third of all inhabited areas are completely unknown,
especially in Africa, there's a whole continent
to be discovered, simply in the interest of science,
it's our duty to explore it.
- So the association funds the first European
expedition into the interior of the continent.
A certain Scotsman, Mungo Park manages to get as far
as the Niger River.
(whimsical music)
But the Niger was a wild river and he was unable to tame it.
It was next the turn of a young Frenchman, he spoke Arabic
and had studied the Koran and he set off (mumbles).
He would be the first European ever to arrive in
the legendary city of Timbuktu, also known (mumbles).
Naturally there were many others from many other lands,
but the most extraordinary was surely a Scotsman whose name
was David Livingston.
And at the age of 25 and with diplomas in medicine
and theology, he arrives in South Africa and sets up
a mission north of Kuruman.
Well before long, he married the daughter of the local
clergyman.
(slow music)
- All human wisdom comes from our lord.
- [Narrator] The Dutch settlers were at war with the English
and took a very dim view of his mission.
- We'll have to leave our home.
- [Narrator] Crossing the Kalahari desert was too dangerous.
(upbeat music)
(mumbles)
(lion roars, David gasps)
(birds chirp)
- It's Lake Ngami, we're first people ever to see it.
First ones.
(baby cries)
It's much too dangerous for you and the children.
You'd better go on back to England, you're all much
too ill, I'll go with you to Cape Town.
- [Narrator] So leaving his wife and children behind,
Livingston pursued his undying passion for exploration.
- That was our last one.
European animals are especially vulnerable to the disease.
Caused by the tsetse fly.
- The Zambeze, we'll cross it.
Chop.
(men grunt)
(water rushes)
(men shout)
- That's a good spot.
(upbeat music, birds chirp)
- No, a convoy of slaves, that can't be allowed.
We must help those poor people, get the distress flares.
(gasps)
- Surprise.
(commotion)
- They tied us and beat us, but you tore our ropes
and you gave us food, what are you called?
- Dr. Livingston.
I have come from faraway England across the sea.
- You seem good so you're our friend, we are the,
this is our primal land, please come with Dr. Livingston,
our chief will be glad to meet you.
(cheering)
(laughter)
(drums, hums)
(laughs)
I bring the man who saved us all from the slave traders.
- I am Zekoleto, king of Batalolos.
You helped my people, I will give you help.
You've only to say what you want.
- Just one thing, I want to explore your mountains,
your rivers, make roads, open up your land to civilization,
put an end to slavery.
If I might go from here all the way, to the great sea,
an ocean thousands of times greater than your biggest
lakes, it would be good for your people.
- You'll have supplies and be escorted by my warriors.
- [Narrator] Livingstone took five months to cover
the 2000 kilometer journey to Lawanda, capital of Portuguese
Angola, and he would cross five great rivers.
And the trip proved to be much more difficult than
he could ever have imagined.
(grunts)
With every step, he met new challenges, and finally here
he is in Lawanda.
(whimsical music)
- My jungle people.
(laughs)
- (Mumbles) Crocodiles worth more, that's enough.
A hospital. - Just in time.
(groans)
- [Narrator] And after three months of rest.
- What, where am I?
I'm losing time.
- Welcome back, doctor.
- Now I've made a big decision, we're going to cross Africa
from end to end, in a straight line.
We've got our canoes, it's easy.
But first back to the Mogololos to see their king.
(whimsical music)
From sea to sea, from rising sun to setting sun.
- You will need additional mules and more ivory
if you're going so far, you shall have them.
(water splashes)
(birds chirp)
- The rumbling smoke.
- The waterfall, we'd better beach them, quickly,
over there.
(grunts)
Quickly, come.
(water rushes)
Whoa.
(clears throat)
I name these falls Victoria in honor of our gracious queen.
(sighs)
(laughs)
Let's go, there's a long trek ahead.
(upbeat music)
Slave traders must have come.
(speaks in foreign language)
- You have to pay him to pass through his
territory. - Alright, bring him
something.
- I want big one.
(laughs)
(growls)
- Chief, a gift for you.
Alright, let's go.
- What is it, let me see.
(shatters)
- [Narrator] And so after eight months, Livingstone,
exhausted and sick finally reached Kalamani, the first
European to cross Africa from west to east.
He had crossed the entire continent.
Returning to England after a 15 year absence, he is given
a hero's welcome.
- Welcome back. - Yay.
- Welcome back.
- Dr. Livingstone returns. - Dr. Livingstone in London.
(cheers)
- Therefore if we want to open Africa and exploit
it's riches and put an end to the wicked slave trade
we must bring Africa our civilization as well
as Christianity.
(applauds, cheers)
- [Narrator] So appointed as Consul to Eastern Africa,
Livingstone returned to the black continent, his mission,
open a navigable waterway on Zambezi.
(monkeys screech, men gasp)
- This boat is slow, much too slow.
(commotion)
(elephant toots)
(whimsical music)
(commotion)
- The boat isn't much use, probably useless.
- England is delighted to offer you this boat,
the greatest technological model found, we shall see.
- [Narrator] Oh yes, they would see alright.
(people scream, shout)
- I can't swim.
(grunts)
- There's Africa's answer to Europe's latest technological
model.
- [Narrator] All the same, it helped him to discover
beautiful Lake Nyasa.
(whimsical music)
- Have a good return trip.
- I say, you're a tough nut, aren't you?
- London's always sending me ballroom explorers with
no backbone in them, I think I'll just get started
on my own with my porters and my buffalos.
(buffalo moo)
- We would like to go along with you this time.
But we're old and pretty tired now, Doctor.
But if you like, our sons Tsunzi and Tuma could go
with you.
(whimsical music)
(birds chirp)
- [Narrator] So Livingston's disappeared, he was swallowed
up by the African Jungle.
Many people in Europe were concerned about Livingstone
but nobody did anything, and then an American newspaper
funded a search expedition.
- Yeah, yeah Stanley, yeah.
Well look, you are the only one who can go to Africa
and find David Livingstone.
The scoop of the century.
- Difficult, Mr. Bennett, and costly, very costly.
Livingstone's methods aren't mine.
- Anything you want, just ask for it, write your own
ticket.
- Our job is to find Livingstone as quick as we can,
there aren't going to be any stops or delays and anybody
who tries to desert gets punished.
Everybody got that?
- Ah they're deaf, every one of them, he means you
lazy bones, work hard.
- My men are the best porters around.
Go on, you ask anybody.
- Yes, that is exactly what my men said they had word
of him, it is 1000 kilometers away.
And it will be hard.
- What is that?
- Out of the way.
(elephants toot)
They make it much easier.
Let's go.
(sings in foreign language)
(birds chirp)
- This merchandise is excellent, quality.
- I want to locate a certain white doctor.
- Hinojiji is one with a white beard.
- Hinojiji, that's what they said, yes, that could be him.
I think we'll find him.
- Well, we're off again.
- They are looking exceedingly tired to me boss, a little
rest would be good, just look at them.
- Yes, we're tired, we want to stop.
- Not until we find Livingstone, then we'll stop.
Every man will be rewarded, but now, just one order,
hit the trail.
- [Narrator] Finally they get to Hinojiji.
(gunshots echo)
And it was here that he spoke the sentence that went
down in history.
- Dr. Livingstone, I presume? - Yes, I suppose sir.
(birds chirp)
- Doctor, I'm very glad at last we meet.
- My pleasure sir.
(liquid pours)
Well I see you travel in style.
- I'm well funded, Doctor, in Europe, everybody's concerned
about you.
- Just in time, my supplies would have run out in about
two weeks.
- Now we can return together doctor, it will be a pleasure.
- What, return?
- I'll take you back to England, doctor.
- Stanley, when I decide to return to England I don't
need anybody, I'm, (coughs) I'll get myself.
- Very well, if you want to remain I can't make you go back.
- Listen to me Stanley, these are my notes from the past
two years, if anything happens to me all my work will
be lost.
- Yes, but why don't you want to come back home?
- Young man, you have given me strength and hope,
my place is here.
Anyway, I'm going to find the source of the Nile.
Let's go lads, we're on our way (coughs).
- [Narrator] But Livingstone wouldn't go far.
Though he aged comfortably, in the midst of the rainy season
he lost his way.
(whimsical music)
(thunder crashes)
- I did my best.
- [Narrator] After Livingstone's death, it was for Stanley
to take up the challenge.
He mounted the most extensive expedition ever seen in Africa
eight tons of supplies and equipment carried by 360 porters
and he set off to explore the Congo.
- I believe it flows directly into the Congo.
- About half the men have deserted and we are in the middle
of nowhere.
- We're to load the others on the water and we'll make
progress, on our own, what's more, Zibitubul will help us.
- Why do you have anything to do with that slave trader,
why? - With him here the porters
won't run away.
(dramatic drum music)
Don't take all day.
Let's go, put some speed into it.
Let's go.
(men shouting)
- [Narrator] Once they were in a quiet part of the river,
other problems.
(shouting, commotion)
- They're scared of us, they've never seen a white man
on boats like this.
- Well I'll give them a good reason to be scared.
Ready at my command.
Fire.
(gunshots echo)
- [Narrator] Stanley was to wage 32 skirmishes with
the natives and spread terror as he forced a passageway
on the Congo River.
His fierce determination earned him the name Rockbreaker.
- Now they know what's in store, if they attack us.
- [Narrator] Their journey went on like this to Boma
a new landing.
(people talk in foreign language)
(gasps)
- Nice to get back to civilization.
We're all very, very tired.
We've come from Jackson (grunts).
- [Narrator] 99 days of torture to reach the coast,
but Stanley's exploit was to change many things.
He had opened up Africa and all it's riches were squabbled
over by Europeans. - Get away I was here first.
I alone belong. - I'm the first.
(commotion)
- [Narrator] It was a mad race and the winner?
Eh, whoever could plant his country's flag first.
Well Stanley returned to the Congo and made it the Belgian
Congo, a British subject came and gave his name
to British Cameroon.
A Frenchman, Pierre De Raza would found Brazzeville.
Each explorer is happy to immortalize his name and soon
Africa was exploited in a way far different than
the humanitarian dreams of Livingstone.
Ah, Africa, that is even today so mysterious.
(upbeat music)