Get The App

Download the Josplay app for the best experience.

Download Now

Charts

Discover the latest hits and trending music.

Explore Charts

Podcasts

Stories, music and conversation from Africa and its diaspora.

Browse Podcasts

New Releases

Stay updated with the latest music releases.

See New Releases
← The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo History
Mali's Silent Trade The Gold Exchange That Needed No Words artwork

Mali's Silent Trade The Gold Exchange That Needed No Words

The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo History
S3 E10508:03
Play episode

Show notes

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the silent trade of gold — a ritualized barter system that allowed Malian miners and North African merchants to exchange gold for salt without ever speaking or seeing each other. Drawing on accounts from al-Umari, Ibn Battuta, and the Tarikh al-Sudan, they unpack how this practice worked at sites like Wangara and Bambuk, why it persisted for centuries, and what it reveals about trust and taboo in the Mali Empire. They also touch on the role of the Dyula merchants, the geography of the Bure and Bambuk goldfields, and the decline of silent trade as market economies expanded. A focused look at one of history's most peculiar economic customs. #MaliEmpire #SilentTrade #GoldTrade #Wangara #Bambuk #Bure #Dyula #IbnBattuta #alUmari #TarikhAlSudan #SaltTrade #MansaMusa #WestAfrica #KankoroSigui #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalTrade #EconomicHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

More from this show

More
  1. Mansa Sakura: The Slave Who Became Mali's King

    Most histories remember Mansa Musa as the face of Mali’s wealth, but before his coronation sat a ruler whose rise was far more unexpected. This episode explores the life of Mansa S…

    S5 E24310:13
  2. The Silk Road of Sand: Mali's Trade Networks

    While Mansa Musa’s gold has overshadowed other aspects of the empire, Mali’s true power lay in its control over trans-Saharan trade routes. This episode explores how the Wangara me…

    S5 E24207:58
  3. Mali's Iron Kings: Blacksmiths and Nyama

    While we often discuss the gold of Mansa Musa or the manuscripts of Timbuktu, the Mali Empire’s foundation was built on iron. This episode explores the vital role of blacksmiths, k…

    S5 E24108:26
  4. The Great Mosque of Djenné: Earth, Faith, and Empire

    While Mansa Musa’s hajj brought Mali global fame, the true heart of its spiritual life pulsed in the Sudano-Sahelian architecture of cities like Djenne. This episode explores how t…

    S5 E24009:36
  5. Mali's Slave Kings and the Wangara Rise

    This episode explores the paradox of Mansa Sakura, a former slave who became one of Mali’s most effective rulers. While earlier episodes covered the Keita dynasty’s military conque…

    S5 E23907:26
  6. Mali's Blacksmith Kings: The Iron That Built an Empire

    While Mansa Musa’s gold dominates the history books, it was iron that actually built the Mali Empire. In this episode, we explore how the Keita dynasty’s roots as blacksmiths shape…

    S5 E23808:53
Now Playing

No Track Playing

The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo History — Mali's Silent Trade The Gold Exchange That Needed No Words | Podcast | Josplay Music