Ḥasan bin Muḥammad al-Wazzān al-Fāsī

Hasan Wazzan, known in the West as Leo Africanus, was a Moroccan explorer and writer. He is most famous for his detailed book, 'Description of Africa,' which provided Europe with its first comprehensive view of the geography, peoples, and cultures of the African continent. Captured by Christian pirates and presented to Pope Leo X, he converted to Christianity and took on a new name. His works, written in Italian, played a significant role in shaping European perceptions of Africa for centuries.