Mali's Takedda Copper Mines: The Forgotten Currency
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
We often talk about Mali's gold, but what about its copper? This episode dives into the empire's copper mines at Takedda, a crucial source of the red metal that powered trans-Saharan trade and served as currency across West Africa. Lucas and Luna explore how Takedda's copper was mined, shaped into manillas and bars, and traded for salt, cloth, and gold. They discuss the role of copper in everyday life — from jewelry to tools — and how control of these mines helped Mansa Musa and his successors maintain economic hegemony. The episode also touches on the mysterious 'silent trade' and the copper's journey to the Niger cities of Gao and Timbuktu. A rarely-told story of an unsung commodity that built an empire. #MaliEmpire #Takedda #CopperMines #MansaMusa #TransSaharanTrade #WestAfricanHistory #Currency #Manillas #SilentTrade #Gao #Timbuktu #NigerRiver #MedievalEconomy #Sijilmasa #Wangara #IbnBattuta #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
