Ancient Malian city celebrates annual replastering of mosque

Thousands of Malians have replastered the iconic earthen mosque in the historic city of Djenne during an annual ceremony that helps preserve the World Heritage site.
To the sound of drums and festive music, townsmen on Thursday coated the towering three-minaret mosque with fresh mud plaster.
The annual replastering with 'banco' — a mix of earth and water — shields the mosque from harsh weather ahead of the Sahel region's often violent rainy season.
'This mosque belongs to the whole world,' said Aboubacar Sidiki Djiteye, his face streaked with mud as he joined the 'unifying' ritual.
'There's no bigger event in Djenne than this,' he said.
'Replastering the mosque is a tradition handed down from generation to generation,' said Bayini Yaro, one of the women tasked with carrying water for the plaster mix.
MALI-RELIGION-HISTORY-ARCHITECTURE
Locals prepared the mix themselves, combining water, earth, rice bran, shea butter and baobab powder — a hallmark of Sahel-Sudanese architecture.
Chief mason Mafoune Djenepo inspected the fresh coating.
'The importance of this mosque is immense. It's the image on all Malian stamps,' he said.
A blessing ceremony followed the replastering, with Quran verses recited in the mosque courtyard. Participants then shared dates and sweets.
First erected in the 13th century and rebuilt in 1907, the mosque is considered the world's largest earthen structure, according to the United Nations' cultural body, Unesco.
Djenne, home to around 40,000 residents and known for preserving its traditional banco houses, has been on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 1988.
Local communities, alongside international organisations like Unesco, are actively working to safeguard Djenne's architectural legacy. Initiatives include repair projects and sustainable tourism programmes aimed at promoting awareness and funding for conservation efforts. The people of Djenne, primarily of Songhai and Bozo descent, uphold these traditions as vital symbols of their identity and history. Women often participate in the nuanced craft of mural decoration, while elders transmit techniques through apprenticeships.
Despite challenges, community-led efforts and governmental support underscore a collective commitment to preserving Djenne's unique heritage. These banco houses not only serve as residences but also as cultural landmarks, contributing to Djenne's status as a Unesco World Heritage site. Their preservation ensures that future generations can continue to appreciate the town's historical significance and architectural beauty amidst a rapidly changing world. The site was added to the endangered heritage list in 2016 due to its location in central Mali, where a group of fighters linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as ethnic militias and criminal gangs, have waged a violent insurgency since 2012.
— AFP

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