So Islam became the religion of the elites in West Africa, which meant that Muslim kings were trying to extend their power over largely non-Muslim populations, which worshipped traditional African gods and spirits. In order not to seem too foreign, these African Muslim kings would often blend traditional religion with Islam, like, for instance, giving women more equality than was seen in Islam's birthplace. Anyway, the first kings we have a record of adopting Islam were from Ghana, which was probably the first empire in West Africa, and it really took off around the 11th century. As with all empires and also everything else, Ghana rose and then fell and was replaced by Mali. And the kings of Mali, especially Mansa Musa, but also Mansa Suleiman, his successor, tried to increase the knowledge and practice of Islam in their territory. So, for example, when Mansa Musa returned from his hajj, he brought back scholars and architects to build mosques. And the reason we know a lot about Mali is because it was visited by Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan cleric and scholar who kind of had the best life ever.