Overview
Mansa Musa was the ruler of the African kingdom of Mali from about 1312 to about 1337. He greatly expanded the empire and made it the political and cultural leader of West Africa.
This fictitious chronicle is based on historic accounts of Mansa Musa's visit to Cairo in 1324. Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca, which was recorded by many different sources, including Egyptian historians and Arab and European geographers, was a major event in African history. As a result of this journey, Mali--and Mansa Musa--became renowned abroad. In addition, trade between Egypt and Mali increased. Mali also benefited from the scholars and architects who accompanied Mansa Musa on his return home. Under Mansa Musa's rule, the city of Timbuktu, which he conquered, became a center of scholarship in history, law, and the Islamic religion. Finally, much of the knowledge of Mali's grandeur would have been lost to the people of today if Mansa Musa had not visited Cairo en route to Mecca.