The Lost Mosque of Djenne: a blog about a majestic mosque in the African desert.
My name is Audrey, and I am a student living in London. I have always been interested in architecture and was especially fascinated by mosques. On a trip to Mali, I had the chance to visit the famous mosque at Djenne, and I have been interested in it ever since. I discovered that there are many others who share my interest, but that there is very little online information about this magnificent structure. So I decided to create The Lost Mosque of Djenne as a resource for others interested in this great work of architecture.
The Lost Mosque of Djenne: a blog about a majestic mosque in the African desert.
The Grand Mosque of Djenne is the largest mud building in the world and is one of the most famous landmarks in Africa. Built in 1907, this amazing earthen structure rises dramatically from the dusty plains on the flood plain of the Bani River, located in central Mali near the city of Djenne. The mosque, which was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1988, is considered by many to be a masterpiece of Sudano-Sahelian architectural style, and draws thousands of visitors each year during its annual mudding ceremony. This blog documents our research trip to Mali in March and April 2006, when we visited Djenne and learned about how this unique building is maintained.
The Lost Mosque of Djenne: a blog about a majestic mosque in the African desert.
The mosque at Djenne has always been one of the wonders of our world. This is not only because it is the largest mud brick building on Earth, but also because it has become a symbol for the vernacular architecture and urbanism of Africa. In 1988 it was included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites, and in 2006-2007 it underwent a major restoration effort, which was completed just in time for the annual celebration of the city’s founding.
In this blog I will try to share some insights into this remarkable building and its history. The blog is not intended as a scholarly treatise; rather, it aims to give an overview of what we know about this fascinating structure, drawing on both published and unpublished sources. I am hoping that by doing so we can better understand its role in African history and culture.
The Lost Mosque of Djenne: a blog about a majestic mosque in the African desert.
The Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali, West Africa is one of the most famous mosques in the world. It is also perhaps the most magnificent mud structure anywhere. Muslim pilgrims from all over Africa and beyond, come to pray at this holy site each year. Yet few outside of this region even know it exists.
The Great Mosque of Djenne is the largest mud-brick building in the world and is one of the most famous landmarks in Africa. It was constructed between 1907 and 1909 and features three large towers which rise above its unique Sahelian landscape. The walls are adorned with intricate geometric designs, while crenellations along the top make it appear more like a medieval castle than a religious structure.
The mosque has been maintained by generations of artisans who have rebuilt it with traditional materials and techniques after every rainy season. The result is an architectural marvel that has remained unchanged for centuries.
The Great Mosque was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1988 as part of a larger serial nomination that included Timbuktu’s three other famous mosques: Sidi Yahia (built by Sultan Kankan Musa or Mansa Musa), Sankore
The mosque in Djenne, Mali is a magnificent structure made of mud. The architect and builder of this amazing building was a black african. It has been standing for more than 500 years.
The enormous size of the building and its elaborate decoration are astounding. The walls are adorned with geometric designs, spirals, and mud columns that adorn the doors and windows of the mosque. The architecture is a blend of traditional African design and Islamic style.
The most striking feature of the mosque is its huge towers that rise to over 300 feet in height. There are five towers on each side of the mosque and one central tower that rises above all the others. The main tower is known as the minaret. This minaret is used for calling Muslims to prayer throughout the day.
The Lost Mosque of Djenne is located in the city of Djenne, Mali in West Africa. It can be found at latitude 18° 41′ 0″ N and longitude 3° 50′ 0″ E (18.683333, -3.833333).
This week we are featuring a stunning series of videos on the incredible Lost Mosque of Djenne. The mosque is a cultural treasure and architectural marvel, built entirely out of mud brick. It’s also a living monument, with worshipers still regularly filing in and out of the mosque.
The Lost Mosque of Djenne is one of the most famous mosques in all of Africa, with its distinctive square shape and three large hand-carved wooden doors. Even more impressive than the architecture is the fact that it is made entirely from mud brick, which means that the entire structure needs to be rebuilt every year.
A few years ago, a team of National Geographic photographers were sent to Djenne to document this amazing building for our magazine. They were able to capture some truly incredible footage.
“I have noticed that even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.”
-Stephen Hawking
In the past few decades, there has been a lot of debate about whether humans are getting smarter or dumber. The Flynn effect shows that average IQ scores have been rising for several decades, but there are also worries that the average person’s attention span is shrinking with the rise of internet culture.
It’s possible both effects are happening simultaneously. Maybe humans on average are becoming more intelligent while also becoming less capable of applying said intelligence in any meaningful way.