Mali - King Musa

This week at Adolophine we are celebrating Mali. Mali is a beautiful country in West Africa. In Mali different religious groups co-exist peacefully. The majority of the population fall into the following ethnic groups: Made, Fula, Voltaix, Tuareg, Moor, Songhai and others. 

The capital of Mali is Bamako. Bamako is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and the sixth fastest in the world. 

One of the most famous and important rulers in history is a Malian. Emperor Mansa Musa became ruler of the Mali Empire in 1312, taking the throne after his predecessor, Abu-Bakr II, went missing on a voyage he took by sea to find the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The Malian Empire flourished thanks to ample natural resources like gold and salt.

Under the rule of Musa, the empire grew to span a sizeable portion of West Africa, from the Atlantic coast to the inland trading hub of Timbuktu and parts of the Sahara Desert. The citizens economic situation improved when the territory increased in size. From the markets of Cairo to royal offices to the impoverished people that crossed his path in Egypt, Musa’s generosity and purchase of foreign goods left the streets littered with gold.

King Musa wasn’t all about giving. On his voyage, he acquired the territory of Gao within the Songhai kingdom and extended his territory to the southern edge of the Sahara Desert along the Niger River. King Musa empire spanned several territories, including current day Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mauritania, in addition to Mali.

Mali Empire was the largest empire in West Africa. The reach of Musa Keita has profoundly influenced the culture, language, laws and customs in West Africa. 

King Mansa Musa would be the richest person in the world today. The ancient Malian leader wealth and reach was/is so vast than no one in history has come close to amassing his wealth.