Mansa Musa

Hello. My name is Mansa Musa. That means 'King Musa.' I was a king a very, very long time ago in a big, wonderful place in Africa called the Mali Empire. My kingdom was famous for its sunshine and its shiny, sparkly gold. Being a king was a big job, but I loved my people and my home.

One day, around the year 1324, I went on a super long trip. It was a special journey called a pilgrimage. I brought thousands of my friends and helpers with me. We had long lines of camels carrying yummy food, cozy blankets, and guess what? Lots and lots of gold. As we traveled, I shared my gold with everyone we met. I gave it to people who needed help and to make new friends. It made me so happy to share.

When I came back home, I wanted to make my kingdom the most beautiful place in the world. I used my gold to help build amazing things. In a famous city called Timbuktu, I helped build big schools for learning and tall, beautiful mosques for praying. I wanted everyone to have wonderful places to come together and learn new things. It was so much fun to see our cities grow and sparkle.

I lived a full and happy life as a king. Today, people remember me as a ruler who was kind and generous. They tell stories about my amazing journey and the beautiful buildings I helped create. I am happy that my story shows how wonderful it is to share what you have with others.