Mansa Musa's Secret Naval Expedition to the Atlantic

Mansa Musa: The Richest Man Who Ever Lived — Fexingo History · Oct 2, 2026 · 7m · transcript

While most histories focus on Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca, a lesser-known account from the 14th century suggests he sent an armada into the unknown Atlantic Ocean. This episode explores the legend of Abu Bakr II, his brother and predecessor, who allegedly abdicated the throne to sail westward with 2,000 ships, never to return. We examine the primary sources, including al-Umari’s interviews in Cairo and Ibn Khaldun’s skeptical notes, to separate historical fact from oral tradition. Through Lucas and Luna’s conversation, we uncover the political motivations behind this daring voyage, the…