How did Ghana and Mali Songhai become wealthy from gold salt even tough they not mine either one?

* Control of the gold trade: Ghana controlled the trade routes between the gold-rich regions of West Africa and the markets of North Africa and the Middle East. This allowed them to tax the gold trade and collect a significant amount of wealth.

* Gold dust: Ghana also collected gold dust as tribute from conquered peoples and as payment for goods and services.

Mali Songhai

* Control of the gold trade: Mali Songhai inherited Ghana's control of the gold trade and expanded it to include the salt trade as well.

* Salt trade: Mali Songhai controlled the salt mines of the Sahara Desert and taxed the trade of salt to the gold-rich regions of West Africa.

* Gold and silver mines: Mali Songhai also had access to gold and silver mines in the Bambuk region of present-day Mali.

Conclusion

Ghana and Mali Songhai became wealthy from gold and salt even though they did not mine either one by controlling the trade routes and taxing the trade of these valuable commodities.