A walk through the historical lanes of Mali

Heritage cities that preserve the old Malian culture
2020-09-07
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/ New Delhi
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The Great Mosque of Djenné is the largest mud-brick structure in the world

From the swathe of the desert in the north to the grand Niger river, from the magnificent cliffs of Dogon country to the exhilarating pulse of its vibrant capital Bamako, Mali offers a rich and diverse landscape to the travellers. Known as the Jewel of West Africa’s Crown, the adventures on this western Saharan nation is worth experiencing.

Bordered by countries like Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Guinea, there is much more to Mali than the sands of the Sahara Desert. Malian towns, such as Timbuktu and Djenné, have been important centres on the trans-Sahara trading routes for centuries and the markets still flourish. Mali’s lifeline is the Niger River and most cities and villages are located close to the water. There is a boat that connects the settlements along the river, but the Niger only carries enough water for boats to pass for half of the year.

The Festival of the Desert takes place 60km outside Timbuktu every year in January and attracts world musicians. The Festival of the Niger in Ségou celebrates the culture along the river with some top musical acts playing every year.

Dogon Country offers travellers excellent trekking opportunities along the Bandiagara escarpment and insight into one of Mali’s indigenous cultures, while Africa’s northernmost elephant herd can be seen in the Réserve de Douentza.

“Mali is a place of contradictions, where ancient traditions and music meet modern aesthetics, especially in its capital, Bamako. It is a place where you can enjoy a peaceful trip to a small Bozo village on an island in the Niger in a pirogue (a canoe) and then dance until the early morning hours in one of Hippodrome’s night clubs. Or you can escape the bustle of the city by going for a walk in the Parc National,”  Neil Bakshi, who visited Mali in March this year tells India Outbound.

Filled with mysterious and adventurous places to explore, Mali is home to four UNESCO World Heritage cities that await tourists with Awdansé, (Warm Welcome)!

Djenné

Djenné, the chief town of the Djenné Circle, located 130 km south-west of Mopti, the regional capital and roughly 570 km north-east of Bamako, the national capital, is one of the oldest towns of sub-Saharan Africa.

The cultural centre, Old Towns of Djenné, comprises four archaeological sites, namely Djenné-Djeno, Hambarkétolo, Kaniana and Tonomba. It is an ensemble that over many years has symbolised the typical African city. It is also particularly representative of Islamic architecture in sub-Saharan Africa.

It is characterised by the intensive and remarkable use of earth specifically in its architecture. The outstanding Great Mosque of Djennéis an outstanding example and is of great architectural and spiritual value. Djenné is renowned for its civic constructions, with the distinctive style of verticality and buttresses as well as elegant houses with intricate facades.

Timbuktu

 

Mosques at Timbuktu exceptional examples of earthen architecture and traditional maintenance techniques

The iconic landmark of West Africa, the historical marvel of Timbuktu is located at the gateway to the Sahara desert, within the confines of the fertile zone of the Sudan River and in an exceptionally propitious site near the river.

Founded in 12th century in the Mali Empire, Timbuktu reached the apogee of its history between 13th and 15th centuries when it became one of the most important market places in Sahara and where the trading of manuscripts was negotiated and salt from Teghaza in the north, gold was sold, and cattle and grain from the south.

The three big Mosques of Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia, 16mausoleums and holy public places, still bear witness to this glorious past. The mosques are exceptional examples of earthen architecture and of traditional maintenance techniques, which continues in the present time.

Tomb of Askia

 The Tomb of Askia is located in the town of Gao. The site comprises of the pyramidal tower, the two flat-roofed mosques, the necropolis and the white stone square.

The Tomb of Askia is a magnificent example of how the local traditions have adapted to the exigencies of Islam in creating an architectural structure unique across the West African Sahel, a semi-arid region south of the Sahara. The tomb is the most important and best-conserved vestige of the powerful and rich Songhai Empire. Its value is also invested in its architectural tomb/minaret shape, prayer rooms, cemetery and its assembly space that has survived and is still in use.

Bandiagara plateau or Land of Dogons

The site of the Land of the Dogons is an impressive region of exceptional geological and environmental features. This cliff of Bandiagara or Dogons is a landscape filled with some beautiful architecture including houses, granaries, sanctuaries and Togu Na or communal meeting places.

Several age-old traditions continue to inhabit the traditions like cultural feasts, ceremonies and ancestor worship rituals. The geological, archaeological and ethnological heritage, interests together with the exotic muddy landscape make Bandiagara plateau, one of West Africa’s most impressive sites.

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