Mansa Musa's African Army: The Soldiers of the Mali Empire

Mansa Musa: The Richest Man Who Ever Lived — Fexingo History · May 27, 2026 · 7m · transcript

While Mansa Musa is famous for his gold and his pilgrimage, his power ultimately rested on his army. This episode explores the military structure of the Mali Empire under Mansa Musa in the early 14th century. Lucas and Luna discuss the role of the farba, the provincial governors who commanded local levies, and the elite royal guard of cavalry and infantry. They examine how Mali's army was organized to control trade routes and vast territories, using both mounted horsemen armed with spears and bows and foot soldiers. The conversation touches on the use of iron weaponry, leather armor, and…