In 1513-1515 a North African traveler who later became known as Leo Africanus visited Mali, which was the part of the Songhai Empire, and described the enterprises and religious activities he observed there:

In this kingdome there is a large and ample village containing to the number of sixe thousand or mo families, and called Melli, whereof the whole kingdome is so named. And here the king hath his place of residence. The region it selfe Yeeldeth great abundance of corne, flesh, and cotton. Here are many artificers and merchants in all places yet the king honourably entertaineth all strangers. The inhabitants are rich, and haue plenty of wares. Here are great store of temples, priests, and professours, which professours read their electures onely in the temples, because they haue no colleges at all. The people of...