Optional Tour (5:30–6:15 p.m.)
Meet in the lobby of the Law Building for a tour of the Arts of Africa galleries. Tours run continuously during this time frame, so feel free to join in at any point.

Lecture (6:30 p.m.)
“Mansa Musa, Timbuktu, and an Islamic African Empire”
Presented by Kevin MacDonald, University College of London

The Saharan gold trade brought tremendous wealth to Mali, helping to establish a glittering empire and enabling the creation of an internationally renowned university and library at Timbuktu—well before the establishment of European universities during the Renaissance. Mali’s ruler, Mansa Musa, also achieved fame, overseeing the construction of several fabulous mosques and palaces. In this lecture, Kevin MacDonald explores the legacy of Mansa Musa as well as the ruler's predecessors and successors, the lesser-known but equally powerful empires of Ghana and Songha.

A reception follows.

These programs are open to the public. Admission is free.
 

Generously cosponsored by the Archaeological Institute of America/Houston Society as part of the AIA 2011–12 Discovery Forum Lecture Series.