He captured the neighbouring kingdom of Songhai and made its major city, Timbuktu, an important trading center in North Africa. He is mostly remembered for his famous pilgrimage to Mecca, which took place surrounded by stupendous splendour. See Mali Map

In 1325 he set out with 60,000 porters; 80 camels carrying 140 kg of gold each; and 500 slaves clad in Persian silk. It is said that his lavish spending in the bazzars of Cairo flooded the market with so much gold that it depressed its value for 12 years. It was this flamboyant journey which awakened the world to the riches of Mali.