Interesting Things with JC #1116: "Mansa Musa" Explore the extraordinary story of Mansa Musa, the 14th-century ruler of the Mali Empire and the wealthiest person in history. With an entourage of 60,000 and 18 tons of gold, his pilgrimage to Mecca destabilized economies and forever changed global perceptions of Africa. Discover how his wealth built Timbuktu into a center of learning, reshaped trade routes, and left a legacy that still resonates today.