Mansa Musa's Lost Fleet: The Mali Navy That Ruled the Niger

Mansa Musa: The Richest Man Who Ever Lived — Fexingo History · May 9, 2026 · 5m · transcript

When you think of Mansa Musa, you think of gold, camels, and caravans crossing the Sahara. But the Mali Empire's true superpower was its navy. On the Niger River, a fleet of hundreds of war canoes — some over 80 feet long — controlled trade, projected power, and transported armies. This episode dives into the forgotten naval tradition of the Mande people. We explore the Bozo and Sorko boat-builders, the strategic use of the river as a highway, the legendary naval battle against the Songhai, and how control of the Niger allowed Mansa Musa to project influence from the inland delta to the…