Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa (?–1337?), ruler of the Mali Empire (1312–37?). During his reign, Mali was the most powerful empire of West Africa, and the cities of Gao and Timbuktu became centers of learning, justice, trade, and culture. As a Muslim, Mansa Musa made a flamboyant pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, bringing back scholars to help educate his people and architects to design the mosques of his cities.

See also: Mali Empire.