Mansa Musa became king of Mali in 1312. It was said he may have been the richest man in the history of the world. Ever.
By this time, Islam had spread throughout West Africa and the kings of Mali practiced the faith in order to encourage trade with the Muslim empires in the Middle East. Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim and in 1324, he decided to take a pilgrimage to Mecca.
According to legend, he brought with him some 60,000 soldiers and 12,000 slaves. He had caravans of gold, some say as many as 80 camels carrying up to 300 pounds each of gold dust. So much gold he gave away that the price of gold fell dramatically in the areas he visited.
Click through the images below to trace Mansa Musa's journey to Mecca and learn a little about the the places he visited:
By this time, Islam had spread throughout West Africa and the kings of Mali practiced the faith in order to encourage trade with the Muslim empires in the Middle East. Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim and in 1324, he decided to take a pilgrimage to Mecca.
According to legend, he brought with him some 60,000 soldiers and 12,000 slaves. He had caravans of gold, some say as many as 80 camels carrying up to 300 pounds each of gold dust. So much gold he gave away that the price of gold fell dramatically in the areas he visited.
Click through the images below to trace Mansa Musa's journey to Mecca and learn a little about the the places he visited:
When he returned to Mali, Mansa Musa brought back with him religious leaders and scholars. He donated gold for the building of mosques all over Mali. The Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu was built by Mansa Musa in 1327 and still stands today, almost 700 years later.
During the reign of Mansa Musa, Timbuktu will become one of Africa's most important centers of education. Known for the trade of books, Timbuktu became home to over 150 universities. At it's height, Timbuktu had over 200,000 people and was richer than any city in Europe.
Mansa Musa died in 1337 after ruling for 25 years. Other kings will follow, but none with the prestige and wealth of Mansa Musa.
By the late-1400s, Mali was in decline. A new empire, known as the Songhai, will soon take over the region.
Mansa Musa died in 1337 after ruling for 25 years. Other kings will follow, but none with the prestige and wealth of Mansa Musa.
By the late-1400s, Mali was in decline. A new empire, known as the Songhai, will soon take over the region.
But the stories of Sundiata and Mansa Musa live on. Salif Keita, a modern pop star in Mali, is a direct descendent of Sundiata. He is known as the "Golden Voice of Africa." At a young age he was shunned by his family and community, due to the fact that he has albinism. This condition is seen as bad luck in Mandinka culture.
Not only that, since he has royal lineage, music was not seen proper for someone like him. Music was for the lesser griots. Nevertheless, Salif Keita has been performing since the 1960s to world-wide acclaim.
He is in his mid-sixties and sings in both French and Mandinka.
Not only that, since he has royal lineage, music was not seen proper for someone like him. Music was for the lesser griots. Nevertheless, Salif Keita has been performing since the 1960s to world-wide acclaim.
He is in his mid-sixties and sings in both French and Mandinka.
Today, Mali is a mere shadow of its former glory . Plagued by violence, poverty and environmental issues, Mali struggles. Likewise, the once grand Timbuktu is city that is slowly fading from the memory of the days when it was the center of the sub-Saharan African world. Click on the button below to view pictures from modern Timbuktu.