Mansa Musa's Iron Generals and the Battle of Gao

Mansa Musa: The Richest Man Who Ever Lived — Fexingo History · Oct 28, 2026 · 10m · transcript

While Mansa Musa is often remembered for his gold-laden pilgrimage to Cairo, his true power lay in the ruthless military campaigns that expanded the Mali Empire. This episode focuses on Tira, the general who led the conquest of Gao in 1325, a pivotal moment that secured control over the Niger River trade routes. We explore the strategic brilliance behind the siege, the role of Koli Tekin in rallying local support, and how the defeat of Gao transformed Mali from a regional kingdom into an empire spanning West Africa. Through the lens of the Dyula merchants and the farba administrators, we see…