The Empires of West Africa Ghana • Ghana was a vast trading empire in West Africa. • Ghana grew wealthy from taxes placed on trade. • A group of North Africans called Almoravids attacked Ghana and disturbed trade routes. • The drop in trade led to Ghana's decline. Mali • Mali emerged when Ghana declined and became a powerful kingdom with a large trading route. • King Mansa Musa brought Muslim architecture and culture to Mali. • The capital of Mali, Timbuktu soon became the center of Islamic art and learning. Songhai • The Songhai people overthrew Mali rule and captured Timbuktu in 1468. • The Songhai Empire was divided into provinces and everyone followed a legal system based on Islam. • The Songhai Empire was defeated by Morocco in the late 1500s.