The Golden Caravan
Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage, 1324
The year is 1324 and the Mali Empire stands tall, holding control over significant territory in West Africa. Mansa Musa, who ascended to the throne in 1312, is preparing for an event that will shake the foundations of history for his empire, immediate surrounding areas, and beyond. In the Islamic tradition the hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must undertake once in their lifetime in order to demonstrate their service to God and the Muslim people. It is at the outset of this committee that Musa I has made the decision to embark on his hajj to Mecca from the heart of Mali. The journey will take him from Niana through Walata, across the Nile into Cairo, through the Mamluk controlled city of Medina, and finally into The Holy City of Mecca.
In the committee, delegates will play the critical role of advising Mansa Musa during the planning and travel phases of the journey, with an emphasis on finances. The committee will also require tactful diplomacy, as Mansa Musa and his court will encounter many new rulers and peoples on the way. Delegates must ensure the well-being of the entire caravan on their pilgrimage with a strategic approach to resource management, while also having the opportunity to jockey for position in Musa’s court. The world will be awakened to the wealth of the Mali Empire.
