Mansa Musa was the tenth Emperor of the Mali Empire who reigned from 1312 to 1337. Also known as Musa I of Mali, he’s widely regarded as one of the wealthiest individuals in history. At the time of his reign, the Mali Empire was a regional powerhouse known for being a centre of learning and a major hub of commercial activity.
Mansa Musa was born in 1280 into the Keita dynasty, founded by the “Lion King” Sundiata Keita. He grew up in a wealthy and powerful family, and was well-educated in Islamic teachings. His predecessor Abu-Bakr II was fascinated by the Atlantic Ocean. According to historical accounts, he abdicated the throne and assembled a fleet of ships to sail west. He never returned.
Mansa Musa is widely believed to have been Abu-Bakr II’s nephew or close relative, coming to power in 1312, and quickly consolidating his rule and expanding the territory of the Mali Empire through military conquest and diplomatic alliances.
A key aspect of this territorial expansion was that it gained control of lucrative trans-Saharan trade routes, enhancing the wealth of the Empire and allowing for investment in education, infrastructure and cultural development.
Mansa Musa built mosques, libraries and schools, and encouraged scholarly exchange, which led to the Empire becoming a beacon of knowledge and learning, attracting students, scholars and intellectuals from Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Timbuktu, for example, became one of the most famous centres of learning in the medieval world.
Under Mansa Musa’s rule, the Mali Empire reached its apex that included territory in modern day Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mauritania and Burkina Faso. The empire controlled key trade routes that connected West Africa with North Africa and the Mediterranean world.
Mansa Musa is often referred to as the richest individual in history. The Mali Empire was the largest producer of gold in the world during his reign. The empire also controlled major salt-producing regions. And given the vast territory Mansa Musa oversaw, revenues flowed in via tribute and taxation.
It’s hard to estimate how much he’d be worth today, but to get an idea, his pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in 1324 is remembered because of the impact he had on the local economies he journeyed through.
Mansa Musa traveled with a caravan that included thousands of soldiers and servants, and hundreds of camels covered in gold. Along the way, he distributed gold to the poor and to local rulers and communities. His distribution of gold was so immense that it reportedly caused a temporary devaluation of gold in the regions he visited such as Cairo, Medina and Mecca.
He brought back scholars, architects and artists from his pilgrimage, contributing further to the Mali Empire’s reputation as a centre for learning, scholarship and culture that lasted for centuries.
