Travelers in the West African empires described their grandeur. The North African traveler known as Leo Africanus, who visited West Africa in 1513, wrote a firsthand account of life in Timbuktu:

The inhabitants of Timbuktu are very rich, especially the foreigners who have settled in the country; so much so that the king gave two of his daughters in marriage to two merchants who were brothers, on account of their great wealth.

The rich king of Timbuktu has many plates and scepters of gold, some whereof weigh 1,300 pounds; and he keeps a magnificent and well-furnished court. When he travels anywhere, he rides upon a camel which is led by some of his noblemen: and so he does likewise when he goes to warfare, and all his soldiers ride upon horses. . . . They often have skirmishes with those that refuse to pay...