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Mansa Kankou Musa was the tenth emperor of the Mali Empire during the 14th century. He is noted because of his 1324 hajj to Mecca and and his role as a benefactor of scholarship in West Afrika. His hajj has been accounted for greatly because of its lavish manner (100 camel-loads of gold, each weighing 300 lbs.; 500 slaves, each carrying a 4 lb. gold staff; thousands of his subjects; as well as his senior wife, with her 500 attendants) but it should be equally mentioned that Mansa Musa promoted education, trade, and commerce in Mali. Inheriting the throne from his grandfather's brother Sundiata Keita, Mansa Musa greatly expanded the Mali empire, which then had over 400 urban centers. The level of urban living in West Afrika at this time was extremely advanced in comparison to that of Europe and much of Asia, and many traits of layouts of cities across the globe have originated from the Mali Empire. Literature, under Mansa Musa's rule, was given much attention, and volumes after volumes were produced. Today, some of these volumes are kept as family heirlooms among the people that now reside in this region. Students from Europe and Afrika were sent to educational centers in cities such as Timbuktu, Djenne, and Gao to attend universities. The Mali Empire mostly adhered to Islam, but was tolerant of indigenous religions and Christianity.

Mansa Musa had 10 kids and 3 wives. He is well known for the fact that he wore lavish clothing and gave away so much gold to Egypt en route to his hajj that the value of gold decreased in Egypt, but it should be equally known that Mansa Musa contributed to the spread of education and commerce among the Mandinka people (and those who resided nearby). Mansa Kankou Musa is believed to have died of natural causes and no mention of his death has been found in any documents.

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