In a discovery that has sent shockwaves through the archaeological world, an ancient canoe dating back to *6000 BC has been excavated in the small village of Dufuna, Yobe State, Nigeria. The remarkable find, now confirmed as Africa’s oldest known boat and the second oldest in the world, has upended long-held assumptions about early African technology and trade.
The historic artifact was stumbled upon by Mallam Ya’u, a Fulani herdsman digging a well in 1987. What first appeared to be a mere piece of buried wood soon revealed itself as a carefully crafted 8.4-meter-long dugout canoe, carved from a single African mahogany log. Recognizing its significance, authorities alerted archaeologists from the University of Maiduguri, who, alongside German researchers, conducted a full excavation.
Radiocarbon dating has placed the canoe at approximately 8,000 years old, making it older than the Egyptian pyramids and only slightly younger than the Pesse canoe (Netherlands, 8040 BC)—the world’s oldest known boat.
Detailed analysis shows that the vessel was hollowed out using stone tools, evident from the markings inside. Its sleek design suggests advanced boat-building knowledge, challenging outdated notions that early African societies lagged in technological innovation.
The Dufuna Canoe provides irrefutable proof that the ancient inhabitants of the Lake Chad Basin had developed sophisticated water transport systems, possibly for fishing, trade, or migration. This find reshapes our understanding of prehistoric African economies, hinting at long-distance trade networks and maritime activity millennia before recorded history.
Today, the priceless relic is preserved in Damaturu, Yobe State’s capital, where it stands as a testament to Nigeria’s deep and often overlooked prehistoric legacy. Archaeologists and historians worldwide continue to study the canoe, with some calling for greater recognition of Africa’s contributions to early human innovation.
Dr. Ahmed Zaria, a leading Nigerian archaeologist, stated: “This isn’t just a boat—it’s a message from our ancestors. It tells us that Africa was a hub of ingenuity long before the rest of the world took notice.”
As research continues, one thing is certain: the Dufuna Canoe has permanently altered the narrative of ancient African civilization.
