This empire's landmarks included a learning center at Sankore and a religious building at Djenne, both made of mudbrick.
It's not Japan, but this empire's leaders included Sakoura, who seized the copper-producing Takedda region. One map of this empire in the Catalan Atlas shows its leader holding a fleur-de-lis staff in one hand and looking to the left at a gold nugget he holds in the other. Its 44-article constitution established sixteen "quiver-carrier" clans which were all represented in the Gbara. This empire's landmarks included a learning center at Sankore and a religious building at Djenne, both made of mudbrick. Its founder won a battle at Kirina over the Soso leader Sumanguru, and a later leader of it lowered the value of Egypt's gold when he went on the hajj. For 10 points, name this West African empire led by Sundiata and Mansa Musa.
It's not Japan, but this empire's leaders included Sakoura, who seized the copper-producing Takedda region.
Mali Empire [or Manden Kurufa; or Mandinka]