Mansa Musa

Biography

The ninth Mansa of the Mali Empire, an Islamic West African state. His reign was a period of immense prosperity and cultural growth. His extravagant hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca made him a figure of legendary wealth.

Legacy

Mansa Musa is considered one of the wealthiest people in history. His lavish spending and donations of gold during his pilgrimage famously devalued the price of gold in the Mediterranean for years. He also transformed Timbuktu into a major center of learning and culture.