Who were the major trade partners of the kingdoms of west Africa?

The major African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai had a very lucrative trade industry. By utilizing trade routes across the Sahara Desert, the kings fostered trade that made them wealthy. The African kingdoms had an abundance of gold by later controlling the mines and through panning it from the rivers. Ghana controlled the trade routes and exacted tolls and tax for profit. The kingdoms traded their gold for the salt that was in abundance in Northern Africa. The major trade partner of the kingdoms were the Berbers of Northern Africa.

The famous king Mansa Musa who ruled the Empire of Mali made a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 and traded vast sums of gold with Egypt and the capitals of Europe and Asia. He brought so much gold with him that legend has it the price of the commodity plummeted in those regions. Under the kings of Songhai, Africa extended its trade influence to Morocco, Tunisia, and Spain.