Mansa Musa's Military Campaigns and the Conquest of Gao

Mansa Musa: The Richest Man Who Ever Lived — Fexingo History · Oct 13, 2026 · 10m · transcript

While Mansa Musa is famous for his pilgrimage and gold, his reign was built on military expansion. This episode explores the Mali Empire’s conquest of the Songhai city of Gao in 1325, a pivotal moment that secured control over the Niger River trade routes. We examine how General Tira led the campaign against the Songhai ruler Koli Tekin, integrating these wealthy urban centers into the empire without destroying their local governance. The conversation also looks at the role of the dyula merchants in facilitating this expansion and the strategic importance of controlling salt mines at Taghaza…