All of Cairo was excited by the visit of Mansa Musa, the great king of Mali. Other kings from Mali have come to Cairo while on the Hajj, the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, but none were so impressive as Mansa Musa.

Of course, we have long known of his kingdom. In fact, we have a hostel here in Cairo for students from Mali. But none of them ever told us about the prodigious wealth of their homeland.

Now, Mansa Musa has invited scholars and architects from Cairo to travel back across the desert with him to introduce to Mali our poetry and way of building. He also wishes his kingdom to become a center of learning. He also has invited descendants of the Prophet to accompany him home so that his people may be blessed by looking at them. Naturally, many people wanted to go with him because such a man surely will be remembered as the greatest of Mali’s kings.