Why did Mali and its cities converted to Islam?

The interaction between Muslim merchants and North African merchants provided a gateway for the Islamic belief system to influence the country of Mali. The reason for the location where it spread to was basic geography and their already-stated interaction through trade caused a mix of cultures and belief systems

Following the conquest of North Africa by Muslim Arabs in the 7th century CE, Islam spread throughout West Africa via merchants, traders, scholars, and missionaries, that is largely through peaceful means whereby African rulers either tolerated the religion or converted to it themselves.