[SPOILERS] Vive l'Afrique libre : Bowsling and Aivoturso are Mansa Musa of the Zulu

[Bowsling]

Alright, serious business, we got a snake pick too do. IMO, first pick should be a leader. Unique civ stuff aren't nearly as significant as traits are, and most tech combos are repeated. No unique building compensates for financial or the lack thereof.

List of obvious leaders (in order of wanting):
Pacal II (Fin/Exp) - Mansa Musa (Fin/Spi) doesn't need much justification here.
Darius I (Fin/Org)
Willem (Fin/Cre)
Elizabeth (Fin/Phi)
--Fin Dropoff--
Both Indian leaders (Spi/Phi, Spi/Org)
Peter (Exp/Phi)
Sury (Exp/Cre)

Civs that I would want, not really in order but sort of in order (almost definitely second round unless odd circumstances come up):
Inca (not with cre)
India
Maya: ball courts and holkans are sick, Mysticism/Mining allows us to grab monotheism and run org rel super early
Zulu: quite underrated IMO. Starts with Hunting/Agri, and both unique things are nice even without the Spanish Apolyton route
England: redcoats and stock exchange probably make up for starting with fishing
Byzantium: decent starting techs and cataphracts
Any civ that starts with Argi/TW (Ottomans, Sumeria, Egypt and France in that order).