Mansa Musa was the Mali Empire’s ninth mansa, and his reign saw the Mali Empire reach its territorial apex. Musa is well-known for his wealth and has been dubbed “the wealthiest man in history.” His fortune stemmed from the discovery of significant gold and salt deposits in the Mali Empire, as well as the slave and ivory trade.
At the time of Musa’s accession to the throne, Mali was largely made up of territory conquered from the former Ghana Empire. The Mali Empire included territory that is now part of Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, and Mali.
Early Reign
The region was well aware of Musa’s vast and astonishing wealth, especially his gold, in large part because it was frequently displayed during the pilgrimage to Mecca. He oversaw a significant building and construction initiative in Mali, which resulted in the construction of numerous mosques and madrasas, including Sankore Madrasah (the University of Sankore), during his rule. As more people migrated into city centers during his era, he also promoted urban living, and he is recognized for playing a crucial role in the development of urban civilization.
During his pilgrimage, Musa passed via Timbuktu and Goa, expanding his kingdom by incorporating them into it. With the aid of Spanish and Egyptian architects, he constructed the Djinguereber Mosque, his opulent home, in Timbuktu during this time. In Musa’s dominion, Timbuktu became as a significant hub for trade, culture, and Islamic learning. He was extremely passionate about education, and under his leadership, the University of Sankore amassed one of the biggest libraries in the world, rivaling the Library of Alexandria with its estimated 1,000,000 manuscripts. Trades in southern European cities like Venice and Genoa added Timbuktu to their trading routes as a result of the city’s well-known reputation.
What was Mansa Musa’s net worth?
Mansa, who ruled the Mali Empire from 1312 to 1337, was the eleventh Mansa, or conqueror. Due in large part to the amount of gold generated in Mali throughout his rule, he is regarded as one of the richest historical figures. Mansa Musa’s net wealth at the height of the Mali Empire was equivalent to $400 billion in today’s money.
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Born in 1280 and dying in 1337 was Mansa Musa (or possibly 1332). He was the tenth Mansa, often known as the emperor or “King of Kings.” The Ghana Empire had previously controlled the territory that made up the Malian Empire when Musa came to power. Mansa Musa had titles like Conqueror or Ghanata, Lord of the Mines of Wangara, and Emir of Melle. He was chosen to be Abubakari II’s deputy because the latter never returned from an expedition. In 1324, a devoted Muslim named Mansa Musa traveled to Mecca for a pilgrimage. He brought 12,000 slaves, each carrying four pounds of gold bars, and 60,000 men. Mosques and madrasas at Timbuktu and Gao were among the numerous construction projects Musa was in charge of.
The Richest Human Being of All Time
Mansa Musa, after accounting for inflation, is typically regarded as the wealthiest person to have ever lived. His $400 billion net worth, adjusted for inflation, surpasses Andrew Carnegie’s $310 billion, John D. Rockefeller’s $340 billion, and Elon Musk’s $340 billion net worth, all of which was reached in September 2021.
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Lineage and Pilgrimage
Mansa Musa was appointed the deputy of Abubakari Keita II, the king before him, while he went on an expedition to explore the Atlantic Ocean. Keita is considered to be the founder of the Mailian Empire. Musa made his pilgrimage to Mecca between 1324 and 1325, the journey spanning 2,700 miles. His procession included 60,000 men and slaves who carried gold, and bags and dressed in silk.
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Legacy
Musa’s hajj is regarded as the most illustrious moment in West African history. Musa’s reign is widely regarded as Mali’s golden age, but this perception may be due to his reign being the best documented by Arabic sources, rather than him necessarily being Mali’s wealthiest and most powerful mansa. The Mali Empire’s territory was at its peak during the reigns of Musa and his brother Sulayman, and it covered the Sudan-Sahel region of West Africa.
Musa is less well-known in Mandé oral tradition, where it is performed by the jeliw.
He is chastised for breaking with tradition, and some jeliw accuse Musa of squandering Mali’s wealth. Some aspects of Musa, however, appear to have been incorporated into the Mandé oral tradition figure known as Fajigi, which translates as “father of hope.” Fajigi is remembered for travelling to Mecca in search of ceremonial objects known as boliw, which are important in Mandé traditional religion. Musa, also known as Fajigi, is sometimes confused with Fakoli, an oral tradition figure best known as Sunjata’s top general. Fajigi is a figure who combines Islam and traditional beliefs.
In Mandé tradition, the name “Musa” has become virtually synonymous with pilgrimage, to the point where other figures who are remembered as going on a pilgrimage, such as Fakoli, are also called Musa.
Death
Musa’s actual death date is unknown because it is a contentious subject among academics. Some estimate that Musa died in 1337 because he is said to have ruled for 25 years and because of the length of his successors’ reigns. Others assert that he passed away much earlier and contend that documents show he abdicated the crown to his son in 1325 and passed away soon after arriving home from Mecca. According to yet another account, Musa was alive when the Algerian city of Tlemcen was being built in 1337.
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