Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
It was once a center of Islamic learning. Now Mali's historic city of Djenn mourns lack of visitors
https://apnews.com/article/mali-djenne-mosque-militants-coup-tourism-47c7ef7bcb1e6fda7be64aa2be7f002c(photos at link)
It was once a center of Islamic learning. Now Mali’s historic city of Djenné mourns lack of visitors
[photos at source link]
Djenne’s mosque in Mali has been on the World Heritage in Danger list since 2016 due to the ongoing conflict in the region. It requires a new layer of mud each year before the rainy season starts, or it will fall into disrepair. Women are responsible for bringing water from the nearby river to mix with clay and rice hulls in order to make the mud used to plaster the mosque, while the act of adding the new layer of mud is reserved for men.
BY MOUSTAPHA DIALLO
Updated 3:49 AM EDT, May 18, 2024
DJENNE, Mali (AP) — Kola Bah used to earn a living as a tour guide in Mali’s historic city of Djenné, once a center of Islamic learning known for the sprawling mud-brick mosque that has been on the UNESCO World Heritage in Danger list since 2016.
The Grand Mosque of Djenné — the world’s largest mud-brick building — used to draw tens of thousands of tourists to central Mali every year. Now it’s threatened by conflict between jihadi rebels, government forces and other groups.
Bah says his income was enough to support his family, which now numbers nine children, and to pay for a small herd of cattle. But these days, few visitors come to the city, and he has been largely out of work. When he needs cash, he sells some of his cattle.
[...]
[photos at source link]
Djenne’s mosque in Mali has been on the World Heritage in Danger list since 2016 due to the ongoing conflict in the region. It requires a new layer of mud each year before the rainy season starts, or it will fall into disrepair. Women are responsible for bringing water from the nearby river to mix with clay and rice hulls in order to make the mud used to plaster the mosque, while the act of adding the new layer of mud is reserved for men.
BY MOUSTAPHA DIALLO
Updated 3:49 AM EDT, May 18, 2024
DJENNE, Mali (AP) — Kola Bah used to earn a living as a tour guide in Mali’s historic city of Djenné, once a center of Islamic learning known for the sprawling mud-brick mosque that has been on the UNESCO World Heritage in Danger list since 2016.
The Grand Mosque of Djenné — the world’s largest mud-brick building — used to draw tens of thousands of tourists to central Mali every year. Now it’s threatened by conflict between jihadi rebels, government forces and other groups.
Bah says his income was enough to support his family, which now numbers nine children, and to pay for a small herd of cattle. But these days, few visitors come to the city, and he has been largely out of work. When he needs cash, he sells some of his cattle.
[...]
