Born in Morocco, early in his life Mustafa El-Azemmour was captured and enslaved by the Portuguese and sold to a Spanish man, Andres Dorantes de Carranza. The Moroccan captive was asked to renounce his Muslim faith and be baptized a Christian; renamed Esteban de Dorantes. Only Christians were allowed to travel to the Americas by the Spanish. In 1527, Esteban and Commander Andres Dorantes de Carranza participated in the spectacularly ill-fated Pánfilo de Narváez Expedition in the area now known as Florida.
Six hundred men began the voyage. One ship sank. 400 men and 42 horses completed that voyage. In exploring Florida, they did not find the riches they sought, were attacked by the Apalachee Nation, and lost track of their ships. The group put together makeshift barges to head toward a Spanish stronghold along the Gulf of Mexico. The expedition leader Narváez’ barge was swept out to sea with the force of the water from the Mississippi Delta, and he was never seen again.
Only 15 people survived the crossing, including Esteban whose barge capsized but he and Andres Dorantes made it to shore at Galveston Island in what would become Texas. Native People there, the Karankawas, were kind to them and gave them food.
Later in 1529, walking along the Texas coast, the men were captured by the Coahuilteca Nation. The explorers were forced to do hard labor and given very little food. The prisoner’s ranks dwindled to a handful. Esteban and Andres were two of very few survivors. Esteban learned the Coahuiltec language and culture. History is unclear whether the four men escaped in 1535, or were ransomed by the Spanish.
In 1536, they made it to Mexico City with the help of Spanish soldiers they met along their journey. That was 8 years of traveling! Esteban’s language skills were central to their survival. Many historians believe Dorantes rewarded this loyal scout and interpreter by selling Esteban to the Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza.
In 1539, the Viceroy sent Esteban north as a guide for an expedition in search of the seven cities of gold in what is today New Mexico. That year he reached the Hawikku Pueblo of the Zuni. Esteban was the first non-Native person the Zuni Pueblo met. History is divided, either he was killed as a suspected spy, or the pueblo helped him escape and become free.
Esteban is remembered to this day in Zuni ceremonies with the Chákwaina kas’tina (kachina), a Black figure that represents the change that his visit brought to the tribe, the Spanish Conquest.
In the 12 years after he left Spain, Esteban traveled a large part of what would become the continental United States, bravely journeying through danger, surviving solely through his wits and powers of communication. ¡Olé! –Rebecca
Fake Flamenco 
A great story/legend. And we think our lives are difficult at times. Maggie
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Thank you, Maggie. Yes, wearing a Covid mask is such a hardship… Gives one perspective!
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Another well told bit of history that we all should know. Thank you Rebecca.
I’m hoping that Mustafa/Esteban found a way to freedom.
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Thank you very much, Kim. That’s my hope as well.
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Fascinating read rebecca! xo
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Thanks very much, Carol Anne. Wish we had the story directly from Esteban!
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Thanks for sharing this historical story and legend of Esteban. What a challenging and fascinating life he must have led!
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Thanks for your comments, Rosaliene. Yes, I’d like to know more. Dennis Herrick has written a scholarly book about Esteban that I’d like to read.
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Thanks for this history of a man I’d heard of,but not much more. He seemed to have been a force of nature, and very determined.
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Good for you, Margaret, that you had heard of him. He was the predecessor to the Coronado expedition. Yes, Esteban is definitely a man I’d want on my real life survival team!
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This is interesting. I think in the 1500s, this was still Mexico, no?
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Thanks for your comment, Kathy. It was still Spain, yes. I only say New Mexico for geographic reference. 🙂
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Oh yes. I was talking about the Texas part, but I get it.
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Yes, the Southwest was considered Spanish (by European powers) from the 1500s until Mexican Independence in 1810. Thanks.
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You do come up with the stories most of us would never know about. Thanks!
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Thanks for your comment. There are so many important historical figures of African descent in Spanish American history. It is a pleasure to research and present the stories.
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Reminds me of another ill-fated exploration of the Spanish of Florida, etc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trist%C3%A1n_de_Luna_y_Arellano#:~:text=Trist%C3%A1n%20de%20Luna%20y%20Arellano%20(1510%20%E2%80%93%20September%2016%2C%201573,Conquistador%20of%20the%2016th%20century.
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Thanks to my favorite librarian for this good comparison. He has interesting surnames too.
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