A skilled ruler like himself could manipulate it, but those who followed were not adequate to the challenge.

Movements for self-government gradually eroded central authority until by 1500 Mali had lost its importance as an empire.
Although the period of its power and prosperity was respectable by most world empire standards, it was short-lived compared to the history of the previous empire of Ghana.

Again, a new empire was to emerge from the ruins of the previous one.
The Songhay empire was based on the strength of the important trading city of Gao.

This city won its independence from Mali as early as 1375, and, within a century, it had developed into an empire.

Songhay carried on a vigorous trade with the outside world and particularly with the Arabic countries.