Khephra Burns, Illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon
In the annals of African history, few have left more of an imprint on the outside world than Mansa Kankan Musa, ruler of Mali from 1312-37 A.D. Called by historians Musa the Magnificent, Mansa Musa was a very successful leader, celebrated for his enlightenment, justice and piety. He inherited the Empire of Mali, founded by the great warrior-diplomat, Sundiata, who reigned from 1230-55 A.D. Sundiata was a man of foresight who extended the country’s boundaries and enforced throughout his realm, excellent law and order. Sundiata encouraged agriculture, especially the cultivation of cotton and the mining of gold. His policies made him one of the most heroic and constructive rulers in history. After Sundiata’s death in 1255, there was, until Mansa Musa took power in 1312, a period of confusion. At least six different rulers took power, but the only concrete achievements attributed to these sovereigns was the extension of Mali’s boundaries.
When Mansa Musa took over the helm of state, he added the important towns of Timbuktu and Gao to his kingdom. However, his greatest contribution to Mali’s history was the consolidation of the foundation laid by Sundiata. Known as the country’s architect, Mansa Musa welded a nation from a huge mosaic of peoples whose leaders for 150 years dominated the affairs of West Africa. Establishing Islam as the base for uniting the wide diversity of tribes, he championed this religion with extraordinary zeal. Musa was famed for his piety and the building of imposing mosques, yet he never fought a religious war and did not outlaw other religions.
His encouragement of trade between Mali, North Africa and beyond brought his land great prosperity. He encouraged learning by his generous patronage of schools and Muslim scholars and his encouragement of education made Timbuktu one of the foremost centers of scholarship in the world. Mansa Musa’s famous pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 spread Mali’s renown and prestige in the Islamic countries and the far corners of medieval Europe. In his caravan, as he travelled eastward, were 60,000 courtiers and servants, richly dressed, and 80 camels each carrying some 300 pounds of gold. Wherever his caravan halted on a Friday, he paid for the erection of a mosque. Everywhere he went, he became legendary for his generosity and the extravagant spending of his entourage.
Stopping in Cairo, one of the greatest cities in the world of that era, his spending of millions of dollars caused the value of gold in Egypt to be devalued. Mali’s ambassadors were exchanged with Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and other countries. A few years after Musa visited Cairo, Al-Omari wrote that in all of West Africa he was, “the most powerful, the richest, the most fortunate, the most feared by his enemies and the most able to do good for those around him.”
Most of these historic details are not written in this book. It’s intended for children 6 years old and up. Khephra Burns describes a life lesson that enabled Mansa Musa to accomplish such heroic feats: discovering that truth is only personal. Leo and Diane Dillon, multi-Caldecott Medal winners, illustrated the book and worked their usual, luxuriant magic.
Cloth 18.00
