Mansa Musa's Hajj Through the Eyes of Cairo

Mansa Musa: The Richest Man Who Ever Lived — Fexingo History · Jun 4, 2026 · 8m · transcript

In 1324, Mansa Musa, the emperor of Mali, embarked on a pilgrimage to Mecca that would shake the economies of North Africa and the Middle East. But what did Cairo, the bustling Mamluk capital, actually see? This episode draws on the detailed accounts of the Egyptian historian Al-Umari, who interviewed officials and merchants who had met Musa during his lavish stay in Cairo. We explore the precise amount of gold Musa spent, how his generosity collapsed the price of bullion in Egypt for over a decade, and what the Mamluks thought of this West African ruler. We also examine Musa's audience…