While on the hajj, he met the Andalusian poet and architect es-Saheli. [75] It is possible that it was actually Musa's son Maghan who congratulated Abu al-Hasan, or Maghan who received Abu al-Hasan's envoy after Musa's death. The identification of Niani as imperial capital is rooted in an (possibly erroneous) interpretation of the Arab traveler al Umari's work, as well as some oral histories. The buildings were constructed from slabs of salt and roofed with camel skins. The 1375 Catalan Atlas portrayed a "city of Melly" (Catalan: ciutat de Melly) in West Africa. He brought back with him descendants of Mohammed, Islamic scholars, and architect Abu Es Haq es Saheli, who went on to create the Djinguereber mosque. [70] Gbr Keita was crowned Mansa Ouali Keita II and ruled during the period of Mali's contact with Portugal. The Manding languages were spoken in the empire. Stories of his fabulous wealth even reached Europe. The kingdom of Mali was relatively unknown outside of West Africa until this event. Dates: 4001591 C. E.", "Is Mansa Musa the richest man who ever lived? [18], In the Songhai language, rulers of Mali such as Musa were known as the Mali-koi, koi being a title that conveyed authority over a region: in other words, the "ruler of Mali". Masuta performs many of the same attacks as his original incarnation (though he yells a quote prior to using his abilities), but does not summon thrashing waters or create . [75] This victory resulted in the fall of the Kaniaga kingdom and the rise of the Mali Empire. His elaborate pilgrimage to the Muslim holy city of Mecca in 1324 introduced him to rulers in the Middle East and in Europe. Mansa Musa's reign itself was 25 years long. Last modified October 17, 2020. While in Cairo, Mansa Musa met with the Sultan of Egypt, and his caravan spent and gave away so much gold that the overall value of gold decreased in Egypt for the next 12 years. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. Trade was Mali's form of income, and wealth. [82], Musa is less renowned in Mand oral tradition as performed by the jeliw. Masuta the Descended is a miniboss in The Shadow Reef. The Mali Empire expanded through conquest or annexation. [125] Farin was a general term for northern commander at the time. Mansa Mss prodigious generosity and piety, as well as the fine clothes and exemplary behaviour of his followers, did not fail to create a most-favourable impression. Is Mansa Musa the richest man who ever lived? - BBC News His descendants migrated to the land of Mali and established the Mandinka clan of Keita. At its peak, Mali was the largest empire in West Africa, widely . [93] Gold mines in Boure, which is located in present-day Guinea, were discovered sometime near the end of the 12th century. [49] It has been suggested that the name given in the Arabic sources for the capital of Mali is derived the Manding word "bambi", meaning "dais", and as such refers to the "seat of government" in general rather than being the name of a specific city. [86], The name "Musa" has become virtually synonymous with pilgrimage in Mand tradition, such that other figures who are remembered as going on a pilgrimage, such as Fakoli, are also called Musa. The Portuguese decided to stay out of the conflict and the talks concluded by 1495 without an alliance.[110]. Historians who lived during the height and decline of the Mali Empire consistently record its standing army peaking at 100,000, with 10,000 of that number being made up of cavalry. Musa not only gave to the cities he passed on the way to Mecca, including Cairo and Medina, but also traded gold for souvenirs. As a result of steady tax revenue and stable government beginning in the last quarter of the 13th century, the Mali Empire was able to project its power throughout its own extensive domain and beyond. Well after his death, Mansa Musa remained engrained in the imagination of the world as a symbol of fabulous wealth. Scholars have located the capital in Niani, or somewhere on the Niger, or proposed that it changed several times, that there was no true capital, or even that it lay as far afield as the upper Gambia River in modern-day Senegal. Mansa Musa (Musa I of Mali) was the ruler of the kingdom of Mali from 1312 C.E. Web. We would much rather spend this money on producing more free history content for the world. Arabic sources omit Faga Leye, referring to Musa as Musa ibn Abi Bakr. Konkodougou Kamissa Keita, named for the province he once governed,[70] was crowned as Mansa Mari Djata Keita II in 1360. Kangaba, the de facto capital of Manden since the time of the last emperor, became the capital of the northern sphere. He has been subject to popular claims that he is the wealthiest person in history,[5] but his actual wealth is not known with any certainty. [62] According to one account given by Ibn Khaldun, Musa's general Saghmanja conquered Gao. Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage to Mecca - Amazing Bible Timeline Sundiata Keita is the first ruler for which there is accurate written information (through Ibn Khaldun). Musa conquered more than 20 major cities in his lifetime. [108] Alvise Cadamosto, a Venetian explorer, recorded that the Mali Empire was the most powerful entity on the coast in 1454. [36][37][38], According to the Tarikh al-Fattash, Musa had a wife named Inari Konte. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Urban Dictionary: mansa musa They camped for three days by the Pyramids of Giza, before crossing the Nile into Cairo on 19 July. In 1534, Mahmud III, the grandson of Mahmud II, received another Portuguese envoy to the Mali court by the name of Pero Fernandes. Mansa means (King or Emperor) and he was ruling the Mali kingdom from C.E 1312 to 1337 for around 25 years. This led to inflation throughout the kingdom. Emperors and Empresses from Around the (Non-Roman) World Quiz, Armand-Jean du Plessis, cardinal et duc de Richelieu, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Musa-I-of-Mali, World History Encyclopedia - Mansa Musa I, Musa - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Ms I of Mali, Ms also spelled Musa or Mousa, also called Kankan Ms or Mansa Musa, (died 1332/37? [81] He went on the hajj during the reign of Mamluk sultan Baibars (12601277). [131] Mansa Musa placed a heavy tax on all objects that went through Timbuktu. Atlantic voyage of the predecessor of Mansa Musa - Wikipedia A legend claims that Sunjata transformed into a hippopotamus. [76] After unifying Manden, he added the Wangara goldfields, making them the southern border. The Mali Empire covered a larger area for a longer period of time than any other West African state before or since. Ms I is widely considered the wealthiest man in history. [48], Parallel to this debate, many scholars have argued that the Mali Empire may not have had a permanent "capital" in the sense that the word is used today, and historically was used in the Mediterranean world. ", "Recherches sur l'Empire du Mali au Moyen Age", "Towards a New Study of the So-Called Trkh al-fattsh", World History Encyclopedia Mansa Musa I, History Channel: Mansa Moussa: Pilgrimage of Gold, Caravans of Gold, Fragments in Time: Art, Culture, and Exchange across Medieval Saharan Africa, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mansa_Musa&oldid=1142573327, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Mansa Musa was portrayed in two games in the, Mansa Musa was portrayed in the episode ", This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 05:05. Stride, G. T., & C. Ifeka: "Peoples and Empires of West Africa: West Africa in History 10001800". Mansa Souleyman Keita died in 1360 and was succeeded by his son, Camba Keita. Intro music: "Lord of the Land" by Kevin MacLeod and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license 4.0. The farba could also take power away from the native administration if required and raise an army in the area for defence or putting down rebellions.[130]. [72], According to Niane's version of the epic, during the rise of Kaniaga, Sundiata of the Keita clan was born in the early 13th century. [93] Only at the state or province level was there any palpable interference from the central authority in Niani. [122] They targeted Moroccan pashas still in Timbuktu and the mansas of Manden. He ruled oppressively and nearly bankrupted Mali with his lavish spending. Who Are the Mandinka? - HISTORY Every year merchants entered Mali via Oualata with camel loads of salt to sell in Niani. This is one of the main factors to the fall of the kingdom. [89] This claim is often sourced to an article in CelebrityNetWorth,[89] which claims that Musa's wealth was the equivalent of US$400 billion. It may have been located close to modern Kangaba. [40], Various sources cite several other cities as capitals of the Mali Empire, some in competition with the Niani hypothesis and others addressing different time periods. [84] Then an enslaved court official, Sakura, seized power. The Manding languages were spoken in the empire. Ibn Khaldun in Levtzion and Hopkins, eds. Mansa Musa - Originalpeople.org We all know of Mansa Musa, possibly the richest man to ever exist. Eventually, due to Muhammad's failure to return, Musa was recognized as mansa.[89]. Mansa Mahmud Keita II came to the throne in 1481 during Mali's downward spiral. They tell of his hardships as a boy before he came to the throne. We care about our planet! From the Mamma Haidara Commemorative Library, Timbuktu. Sundiata's mother was Maghan Kon Fatta's second wife, Sogolon Kdjou. Timbuktu became a major Islamic university center during the 14th century due to Mansa Musas developments. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. [70] Manden was split in half with the Dodougou territory to the northeast and the Kri territory to the southwest. This can be interpreted as either "Musa son of Abu Bakr" or "Musa descendant of Abu Bakr." Mansa Musa - Wikipedia The Wolof populations of the area united into their own state known as the Jolof Empire in the 1350s. Many houses were built by hand and during the hot weather some houses would melt so they had to be very secure, The dating of the original Great Mosque's construction is obscure (the current structure, built under French Colonial Rule, dates from 1907). [89][85] Contemporary Arabic sources may have been trying to express that Musa had more gold than they thought possible, rather than trying to give an exact number. Medieval Map Points to World's Richest Man, Maybe Ever Side by side with the encouragement of trade and commerce, learning and the arts received royal patronage. It is known from the Tarikh al-Sudan that Mali was still a sizeable state in the 15th century. Different oral traditions conflict with each other, as well as Ibn Khaldun, about the transfer of power following Sunjata's death. All rights reserved. World History Encyclopedia. [52][55], Musa's generosity continued as he traveled onwards to Mecca, and he gave gifts to fellow pilgrims and the people of Medina and Mecca. When Mansa Musa was giving gold away, he was following 2 . [111] This envoy from the Portuguese coastal port of Elmina arrived in response to the growing trade along the coast and Mali's now urgent request for military assistance against Songhai. His administration and military work allowed the empire to survive through the 16th century, solidifying him, his empire, and his family into the imaginations of storytellers around the world. He belonged to the Keita Dynasty and came to power after Abu-Bakra-Keita II left on an expedition to explore the Atlantic Ocean, leaving Musa as his deputy and never returned. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/video/2147/mansa-musa-family-tree--empire-of-mali/. Who is the richest monarch in the world? - coalitionbrewing.com Several of the names are spelled in a variety of ways in different manuscripts. In Niani, Musa built the Hall of Audience, a building communicating by an interior door to the royal palace. With a global population of some 11 million, the Mandinka are the best-known ethnic group of the Mande peoples, all of whom speak different dialects of the Mande language. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/2147/mansa-musa-family-tree--empire-of-mali/. The date of Mansa Musa's death is not certain. Musa's name Kanku Musa means "Musa son of Kanku", but the genealogy may not be literal. Imperial Mali's horsemen also used iron helmet and mail armour for defence[146] as well as shields similar to those of the infantry. The new Songhai Empire conquered Mema,[93] one of Mali's oldest possessions, in 1465. It wasn't long before the new kingdom of Great Fulo was warring against Mali's remaining provinces. [93] Mansa Maghan Keita I spent wastefully and was the first lacklustre emperor since Khalifa Keita. Al-Nasir expected Musa to prostrate himself before him, which Musa initially refused to do. [93] Mansa Souleyman's generals successfully fought off the military incursions, and the senior wife Kassi behind the plot was imprisoned. Musa stayed in the Qarafa district of Cairo, and befriended its governor, Ibn Amir Hajib, who learned much about Mali from him. However, many believe Mansa Musa's wealth outdoes that of all modern billionaires. [60] The anglicised version of this name, Sunjata, is also popular. A kl-koun led free troops into battle alongside a farima ("brave man") during campaign. [40] Seemingly contradictory reports written by Arab visitors, a lack of definitive archaeological evidence, and the diversity of oral traditions all contribute to this uncertainty. [147][148], The Sudano-Sahelian influence was particularly widely incorporated during the rule of Mansa Musa I, who constructed many architectural projects, including the Great Mosque of Gao and Royal Palace in Timbuktu, which was built with the assistance of Ishaak al-Tuedjin, an architect brought by Musa from his pilgrimage to Mecca. During most of his journey, Ibn Battuta travelled with a retinue that included servants, most of whom carried goods for trade. Does Mansa Musa have any living descendants? - Quora Yet native sources seem to pay him little attention. [16], Al-Yafii gave Musa's name as Musa ibn Abi Bakr ibn Abi al-Aswad (Arabic: , romanized:Ms ibn Ab Bakr ibn Ab al-Aswad),[17] and Ibn Hajar gave Musa's name as Musa ibn Abi Bakr Salim al-Takruri. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Bowmen formed a large portion of the field army as well as the garrison. The army of the Mali Empire used of a wide variety of weapons depending largely on where the troops originated. The other major source of information comes from Mandinka oral tradition, as recorded by storytellers known as griots.[5]. [81] He was replaced by Abu Bakr, a son of Sunjata's daughter. Musa's reign is often regarded as the zenith of Mali's power and prestige. Very little is known about the life of Mansa Musa before 1312. Through the oral tradition of griots, the Keita dynasty, from which nearly every Mali emperor came, claims to trace its lineage back to Lawalo, one of the sons of Bilal,[60] the faithful muezzin of Islam's prophet Muhammad, who was said to have migrated into Mali and his descendants established the ruling Keita dynasty through Maghan Kon Fatta, father of Sundiata Keita.[61]. [130] Farbas were picked by the mansa from the conquering farin or family members. [102] The text of Ibn Khaldun says "Gao, at this time is devastated". However, from 1507 onwards neighboring states such as Diara, Great Fulo and the Songhai Empire chipped away at the outer borders of Mali. When Musa departed Mali for the hajj, he left his son Muhammad to rule in his absence. Intro animation: Syawish Rehman. [135] Gold nuggets were the exclusive property of the mansa and were illegal to trade within his borders. 4. [15] Leo Africanus said that the capital city was called Melli. [43] Djibril Tamsir Niane, a Guinean historian, has been a forceful advocate of this position in recent decades. Malink, also known as Mande, Mali, or Melle, was founded around 1200 CE, and under Mansa Musa's reign . Ibn Khaldun claims Musa reigned for 25 years, so his accession is dated to 25 years before his death. 1312 is the most widely accepted by modern historians. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. [115] The breakup of the Wolof Empire allowed Mali to reassert authority over some of its former subjects on the north bank of the Gambia, such as Wuli, by 1576. [69] The university became a center of learning and culture, drawing Muslim scholars from around Africa and the Middle East to Timbuktu. Equipped with two quivers and a knife fastened to the back of their arm, Mandinka bowmen used barbed, iron-tipped arrows that were usually poisoned. Jansen, Jan: "The Younger Brother and the Stranger. The empire he founded became one of the richest in the world, and his descendants included one of the richest individuals to ever live, Mansa Musa. Le Plerinage La Mecque de Mansa Musa (724725/13241325) d'aprs des Nouvelles Sources", "The Big Secret of Celebrity Wealth (Is That No One Knows Anything)", The International Journal of African Historical Studies, "West African empires. An army was required to guard the borders to protect its flourishing trade. The kingdom of Mali reached its greatest extent around the same time, a bustling, wealthy kingdom thanks to Mansa Musas expansion and administration.Mansa Musa died in 1337 and was succeeded by his sons. The date of Mahmud's death and identity of his immediate successor are not recorded, and there is a gap of 65 years before another mansa's identity is recorded. Songhai forces under the command of Askia Muhammad I defeated the Mali general Fati Quali Keita in 1502 and seized the province of Diafunu. Watch the map animation on From Nothing:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOexUoPc6YUBe sure to subscribe to From Nothing for more African History:https://www.. U UsefulCharts 0 followers More information Mansa Musa Family Tree Rich Man Mansa Mari Djata, later named Sundiata Keita, saw the conquest of several key locals in the Mali Empire. Mansa Mari Djata Keita II became seriously ill in 1372,[93] and power moved into the hands of his ministers until his death in 1374. Abu Bakr was the first and only mansa to inherit through the female line, which has been argued to be either a break from or a return to tradition. Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society. He is also called Hidji Mansa . [70][141] With the help of the river clans, this army could be deployed throughout the realm on short notice. Musa embarked on a large building program, raising mosques and madrasas in Timbuktu and Gao. [41] Given the grandeur of his subsequent hajj, it is likely that Musa spent much of his early reign preparing for it. He stopped in Cairo along the way, and his luxurious spending and gift giving was so extensive that he diluted the value of gold by 10 to 25 percent and impacted Cairos economy for at least 12 years afterward. Regardless of their title in the province, they were recognised as dyamani-tigui (province-master) by the mansa. Consequently, the name of Mali and Timbuktu appeared on 14th century world maps. All of them agree that he took a very large group of people; the mansa kept a personal guard of some 500 men,[94] and he gave out so many alms and bought so many things that the value of gold in Egypt and Arabia depreciated for twelve years. The Cairo that Mansa Ms visited was ruled by one of the greatest of the Mamlk sultans, Al-Malik al-Nir. The earliest document mentioning the mosque is Abd al-Sadi's Tarikh al-Sudan, which gives the early history, presumably from the oral tradition as it existed in the mid seventeenth century. Mansa Musa Family Tree | Empire of Mali. [11][12] The version recorded by medieval Arab geographers is Mali (Arabic: , romanized:Ml). Wali was succeeded by his brother Wati, about whom nothing is known,[82][83] and then his brother Khalifa. En route, he spent time in Cairo, where his lavish gift-giving is said to have noticeably affected the value of gold in Egypt and garnered the attention of the wider Muslim world. Ibn Battuta mentions that the value of salt increased fourfold when transported between Oualata and the Malian capital. Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca happened between 1324 and 1325. "[65], It is recorded that Mansa Musa traveled through the cities of Timbuktu and Gao on his way to Mecca, and made them a part of his empire when he returned around 1325. [117], The swan song of the Mali Empire came in 1599, under the reign of Mansa Mahmud IV. Mansa Musa came from his country with 80 loads of gold dust (tibr), each load weighing three qintars. Al-Qalqashandi quotes al-'Umari as spelling it. After the victory, King Soumaoro disappeared, and the Mandinka stormed the last of the Sosso cities. [45] He would have spent much time fostering the growth of the religion within his empire. With trade being disrupted by wars, there was no way for the economy to continue to prosper. The Mali Empire consisted of land that is now part of Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, and the modern state of Mali. Trade was a significant factor to the rise and success of Mali. The most common measure for gold within the realm was the ambiguous mithqal (4.5grams of gold). Under his leadership, Mali conquered new territories and trade with North Africa increased. . This website claims no authorship of this content; we are republishing it for educational purposes. Forty years after the reign of Mansa Musa Keita I, the Mali Empire still controlled some 1,100,000 square kilometres (420,000sqmi) of land throughout Western Africa.[103][9]. The empire taxed every ounce of gold, copper and salt that entered its borders. Extensive archaeological digs have shown that the area was an important trade and manufacturing center in the 15th century, but no firm evidence of royal residence has come to light. Although this time in the kingdom was prosperous, Mali's wealth and power soon declined. It is implausible that Abu Bakr was Musa's father, due to the amount of time between Sunjata's reign and Musa's. By the time of his death in 1337, Mali had control over Taghazza, a salt-producing area in the north, which further strengthened its treasury. [50] Such impermanent capitals are a historically widespread phenomenon, having occurred in other parts of Africa such as Ethiopia, as well as outside Africa, such as in the Holy Roman Empire.[51]. The wooden window frames of an upper storey were plated with silver foil; those of a lower storey with gold. The Mali Empire (Manding: Mand[3] or Manden; Arabic: , romanized:Ml) was an empire in West Africa from c. 1226 to 1670. 05 Mar 2023. They also used flaming arrows for siege warfare. Mansa Musa (1280-1337) Mansa Musa, fourteenth century emperor of the Mali Empire, is the medieval African ruler most known to the world outside Africa. After unsuccessful attempts by Mansa Mama Maghan to conquer Bamana, the Bamana in 1670 sacked and burned the capital, and the Mali Empire rapidly disintegrated and ceased to exist, being replaced by independent chiefdoms. Mansa Musa of the Mali Empire was the Richest king in history - iwish2click These conflicts also interrupted trade. Mansa Musa turned the kingdom of Mali into a sophisticated center of learning in the Islamic world.Mansa Musa came to power in 1312 C.E., after the previous king, Abu Bakr II, disappeared at sea. [85] He went on the hajj during the reign of Mamluk sultan an-Nasir Muhammad (12981308) and was killed in Tajura on his way back to Mali. Mansa Musa: The Financial Recklessness of the Richest Man in History Musa Keita I (c. 1280 - c. 1337), or Mansa Musa, was the ninth Mansa of the Mali Empire, one of the most powerful West African states. Around 1610, Mahmud Keita IV died. "Mansa Musa Family Tree | Empire of Mali." Under Mansa Ms, Timbuktu grew to be a very important commercial city having caravan connections with Egypt and with all other important trade centres in North Africa. When he did finally bow, he said he was doing so for God alone. It then seized Timbuktu from the Tuareg in 1468 under Sunni Ali Ber. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. [43] Perhaps because of this, Musa's early reign was spent in continuous military conflict with neighboring non-Muslim societies. [90][91] His reign is considered the golden age of Mali. Sadly for Sundjata, this did not occur before his father died. [80] Ibn Khaldun regarded Wali as one of Mali's greatest rulers. He made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca from 1324 to 1326. He was crowned under the throne name Sunidata Keita becoming the first Mandinka emperor. A very large number of families that make up the Mandinka community were born in Manding. Mansa Ms, either the grandson or the grandnephew of Sundiata, the founder of his dynasty, came to the throne in 1307. [10], Mali, Mand, Manden, and Manding are all various pronunciations of the same word across different languages and dialects. Mali Empire - Wikipedia the descendants of the nearly 1,000-year-old objects made in Africa. Mande bards in the region speak of the Dakajalan site, containing Sundiata's grave, as sacrosanct. Mansa Musa Family Tree - World History Encyclopedia [102] It seems quite possible that an exodus of the inhabitants took place at this juncture and the importance of the city was not revived until the rise of the Songhai empire. In oral tradition and the Timbuktu Chronicles, Musa is known as Kanku Musa. They are descendants of. Mali Emperors Family Tree | Mansa Musa - The Richest Man in World Mansa Abu Bakr II had departed on a large fleet of ships to explore the Atlantic Ocean, and never returned.Mansa Musa inherited a kingdom that was already wealthy, but his work in expanding trade made Mali the wealthiest kingdom in Africa. During Musa's 25-year-rule the Mali Empire more than tripled in size and had significant influence in several modern day countries including Mauritania, Senegal, Nigeria, Burkino Faso and Chad. [13][12] In the Manding languages, the modern descendants of the language spoken at the core of the Mali Empire, Manden or Manding is the name of the region corresponding to the heartland of the Mali Empire. Combined in the rapidly spoken language of the Mandinka, the names formed Sondjata, Sundjata or Sundiata Keita. The exact date of Musa's accession is debated. Mansa Musa returned from Mecca with several Islamic scholars, including direct descendants of the prophet Muhammad and an Andalusian poet and architect by the name of Abu Es Haq es Saheli,. [93], Following Musa Keita III's death, his brother Gbr Keita became emperor in the mid-15th century. Kankoro-sigui Mari Djata, who had no relation to the Keita clan, essentially ran the empire in Musa Keita II's stead. From at least the beginning of the 11th century, Mandinka kings known as faamas ruled Manden from Ka-ba in the name of the Ghanas.[68]. The ton-tigi belonged to an elite force of cavalry commanders called the farari ("brave men"). Omissions? While this was probably an exaggeration, it is known that during his pilgrimage to Mecca one of his generals, Sagmandia (Sagaman-dir), extended the empire by capturing the Songhai capital of Gao. Mansa Musa (died 1337), king of the Mali empire in West Africa, is known mostly for his fabulous pilgrimage to Mecca and for his promotion of unity and prosperity within Mali. He built mosques and large public buildings in cities like Gao and, most famously, Timbuktu. What happened to Mansa Musa I wealth? - Quora He could read and write Arabic and took an interest in the scholarly city of Timbuktu, which he peaceably annexed in 1324. Rulers of West African states had made pilgrimages to Mecca before Mansa Ms, but the effect of his flamboyant journey was to advertise both Mali and Mansa Ms well beyond the African continent and to stimulate a desire among the Muslim kingdoms of North Africa, and among many of European nations as well, to reach the source of this incredible wealth. Provinces picked their own governors via their own custom (election, inheritance, etc.). His name was Mansa Musa, and he was a devout Muslim. Musa I ( Arabic: , romanized : Mans Ms, N'Ko: ; r. c. 1312 - c. 1337 [a]) was the ninth [4] mansa of the Mali Empire, which reached its territorial peak during his reign.