Mansa Musa established Mali as a center of Muslim culture primarily by bringing Muslim scholars, artists, and teachers to work in Mali. His famous pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) in 1324 greatly increased Islamic influence in Mali, as he used the wealth he was known for to attract intellectuals and artists from across the Muslim world. This helped to develop the educational, cultural, and architectural landscape of Mali, particularly in cities like Timbuktu, which became renowned centers of learning and culture during his reign.
While his extravagant spending during the hajj did have economic repercussions in places like Egypt, and while he extended Mali's territory and established trade links, it was the infusion of Islamic scholarship and culture that truly solidified Mali's status as a prominent Muslim cultural center.