Mali
Mansa Musa became ruler of Mali after Sundiata, in 1312. He was the grandson of Sundiata's sister. Mansa Musa became the first West African ruler to practice Islam individually. Musa made Mali a center of learning. He also made Islam the official religion in Mali. Mansa Musa made Mali a center for trade and business. A ton of Muslim merchants, traders, and scholars came from parts of Northern Africa to Mali for business, some stayed to live their lives. While in power, Mansa Musa double the land area of Mali.
 MeccaMansa Musa took a hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, which is located in Saudia Arabia. It is also the sight of the Ka'ba. |  Mansa MusaThis is a picture of what Mansa Musa looked like. |
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West African architectural traditions were transformed during the Mali empire. He brought a North African Islamic architect back to Mali with him, on his return from his hajj. The architect, es-Saheli, introduced flat-topped roofs and protruding wooden posts to house sides. These posts made it easier to repair mud walls. In Timbuktu and other cities of West Africa, es-Saheli designed great buildings.
Mansa Musa died in 1332, after being in power for 25 years. His brother, Mansa Sulayman, came to the throne in 1351 after Mansa Musa’s son, who was unsuccessful in his reign. Mansa Sulayman was the last capable Mandingo emperors. He died in 1359, and after him there were no successful leaders. From here, the Mali empire began to decline and the Songhay kingdom began to rise.
He took a hajj, or pilgrimage, to the Ancient City of Mecca in Arabia in 1324. The journey covered about 3,000 miles. About eighty thousand people accompanied Musa on this hajj. After eight months of travel, Mansa Musa reached Cairo, Egypt in July 1324. When arriving, 500 slaves, each carrying a six-pound staff of gold, walked ahead of Musa. Also leading him, was a caravan of 200 camels carrying 30,000 pounds of gold, and food, clothing, and supplies.
Mansa Musa
By: Jake Scaffidi and Joscelyn Hengeveld