Djenne, Mali

Djenne and The Great Mosque - Mali

It is the oldest city in Sub Saharan Africa and very famous for its mud-brick architecture and the biggest of all is the Great Mosque of Djenne. This city is located 350 kilometers southwest of Timbuktu, between Niger and Bani rivers. Djenne has a significant importance as an important regional trade center. The Great Mosque of Djenne is the largest mud-brick structure ever built and has a unique Muslim architecture. The mosque was first built in 13th century by Sultan Koi Kunboro, but in the early 19th century Sheeikh Amadou who was the ruler allowed to fall into disrepair, replacing it with a much smaller version. The original mosque presided over one of the most important Islamic learning centers in Africa during the Middle Ages. Thousands of students came to study the Quran in Djenné's madrassas. The current structure dates back to 1906. The mosque is made up of rectangular sun dried bricks of mud then held together by mud mortar.

The width of the walls ranges from 16 to 25 inches and provide good insulation to the building. During the day the outside heat from the sun gradually and slowly reaches in and by the night the cool again so the temperature inside the mosque remains good all day long. Also the thickness of walls is important to support the massive weight of the structure. Gutters, made of ceramic pipes, extend from the roofline and direct water drainage from the roof away from the walls. The roof of the mosque is supported by ninety wooden pillars that span the interior prayer hall. The mosque is maintained and repaired each year in case of any damages appear on the structure. Men climb onto the mosque's built-in scaffolding and ladders made of palm wood and smear the plaster over the face of the mosque. In 1988, the old Town of Djenne and its Great Mosque were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The biggest threat to the site due to its mud construction was the water damage from the annual flooding of the Bani river, therefore during the construction of the mosque the whole building was constructed on a raised platform.
Djenne was founded in about 300 CE by the Bozo people and the city was converted to Islam in the 13th century. It existed as an independent city-state protected by walls and the geography of the inland delta. According to legend, the Mali Empire attempted to conquer the city 99 times before giving up. Attractions include the Tomb of Tupama Djenepo, who in legend was sacrificed on the founding of the city. The Great Mosque was closed to non-Muslims after a fashion photography shoot on the roof and in the interior prayer-hall offended and was considered in violation of a previous agreement with local leaders. The Great Mosque remains the most prominent symbol of both the city of Djenne and the nation of Mali.