Mali also had a more diverse economy than other West African kingdoms. In addition to agriculture and herding, Mali also engaged in mining, fishing, and weaving. This diversity helped to make Mali's economy more resilient and less dependent on any one sector.
Finally, Mali's economy was also more decentralized than other West African kingdoms. While Ghana and Songhai had centralized economies controlled by the king, Mali's economy was more decentralized and controlled by local chiefs. This decentralization helped to make Mali's economy more flexible and responsive to local conditions.
As a result of these factors, Mali's economy was more stable, diverse, and decentralized than the economies of other West African kingdoms. This allowed Mali to weather the challenges of the trans-Saharan trade decline and to maintain its independence for centuries.