What trade made mali rich?

Mali became rich primarily through the trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt. Gold, especially from the Bambuk and Bure regions, was highly sought after, while salt was essential for preservation and nutrition. This lucrative trade enabled the Mali Empire to thrive economically and culturally, attracting scholars and traders to its cities, particularly Timbuktu. The wealth generated from these trades helped establish Mali as a significant power in West Africa during the medieval period.