The Spotlight

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Most people think of Timbuktu as a far-off, forgotten place—but it used to be one of the world’s busiest and most important cities. It was packed with trade, culture, religion, and education, drawing visitors from across the globe. Mansa Musa, one of its most famous rulers, was so wealthy he’s still talked about today—and he even helped inspire Marvel’s Black Panther. Then there’s Mansa Sundiata, a real-life ruler whose nickname, the Lion King, might sound a bit familiar. While their stories may have been reshaped over time, their influence still shows up in modern pop culture.

So how did a place once compared to New York or London end up as a punchline for “the middle of nowhere”? Let’s uncover what really happened to Timbuktu.