Mansa Musa Keita I, (1312CE – 1337CE), was the ninth mansa of the Mali Empire, which reached its territorial peak during his reign.
Musa is known for his wealth and gift-giving and has sometimes been called one of the wealthiest people in history.
(Mansa translates as, “Kings of Kings” or “Emperor”)
Under his rule, Mali became one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
From their gold and salt production, agriculture and imperialistic nature and dynamic trade location, the kingdom flourished.
Forbes named him the richest man of all time. Musa Kieta I Is famed with enriching the great trading city of Timbuktu, establishing the library and Islamic Universities.
His legendary pilgrimage to Mecca with over 60,000 attendants and lavish outpouring of gold to the poor across Sahel region, Egypt and the Middle East was chronicled by many and is suspected as what drew the attention of the Spanish crown and initial attraction of Europeans to West Africa.
Made famous by the Spanish map, which shows him holding a golden orb, Mansa Musa is also credited with initiating extensive building projects in Mali from palaces, Mosques and urban developments.
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