But djenne and this great mosque of djenne was something special. Like hundreds of other buildings in djenne, the great mosque is made of mud. The great mosques of djenne top, mopti centre and djingereyber mosque in timbuktu bottom after restoration are all part of aktcs earthen architecture programme. Here is a brief look at the tradition in west africa. West african mosque architecture a brief introduction. As one of the wonders of africa, and one of the most unique religious buildings in the world, the great mosque of djenne, in presentday mali, is also the greatest achievement of sudanosahelian architecture sudanosahelian refers to the sudanian and sahel grassland of west africa. Great mosque of djenne if youre seeing this message, it means were having trouble loading external resources on our website. Djenne is home to several notable examples of muslim architecture, including the famed great mosque.
Mosque of cordoba andalusia, spain by domingo leiva cordoba mosque. The annual replastering of the facades of the djenne mosque mobilises the. Djenne today is a fast growing city, with more than 30 thousand inhabitants. Such earthen architecture, which is found throughout mali, can last for centuries if regularly maintained. This is the largest example of sudanesestyle mudbrick architecture. The great mosque of djenne is perhaps the most unique religious building in the world. Djenne, an ancient trading city and center of muslim scholarship, located on the bani river and on floodlands between the bani and niger rivers in southern mali.
The mosque is built in a sahelian architectural style and it is the worlds largest building to be constructed with mud brick. The city is poor without proper sanitation, most people have not attended school. Ap art history samples and commentary from the 2019. Djenne great mosque restoration southern entrance gate to. Mosque of djenne demonstrates continuity with global conventions of mosque architecture by stating that the mosque has a large open area similar to other mosques such as the mosque at cordoba. Djenne mosque, djenne, niger first mosque built here dates from the century, but the present one was built in 1907 if built is the right word for a mud building that requires annual remudding. In areas where islam spread mostly by returning traders, traditions of mosque building were determined more by local skills and approaches. Read and learn for free about the following article. Great mosque of djenne djenne worlds largest adobe. The mosque is built on a raised on a platform in order to protect the building in case of flooding. In the heart of mali in africa, in the inland niger delta, 3 kilometers from the modern town of djenne, lies the ruins of the djennedjenno, an ancient subsaharan town, one of the best archaeological sites in the region and a reminder of the subsaharan civilization of preislamic times. Situated on an island in the niger river delta, djenne became the natural hub for traders who shuttled their goods such as salt, gold and slaves in and out of timbuktu.
It is considered an historic example of sudanese architecture. In order to know more about the various influences that finally led to this magnificent style, we will have to know more about the city of denn, its history. Jan 09, 2011 the great mosque of djenne, mali, is a magnet for tourists, but it is increasingly difficult for locals to live a normal life around it. Media in category great mosque of djenne the following 52 files are in this category, out of 52 total. This thesis examines unescos world heritage project in djenne, a world heritage site in mali.
It was built in 1907, but the towns mud architecture dates back to at least the 14th century. Archeyes brings you a carefully edited selection of international architecture projects including cuttingedge buildings, profiles on top talent and architecture masterpieces. An african heritage database the virtual preservation of africas past pdf. It is also particularly representative of islamic architecture in subsaharan africa. Great mosque of djenne djenne peoples smarthistory. People of the various ethnic groups of mali come together at this weekly market to purchase everything from cattle, meat, fish, vegetables, rice, and all sorts of household goods. The property is characterised by the intensive and remarkable use of earth specifically in its architecture. The town is renowned for its civic constructions, with the distinctive style of. Timbuktu founded about 1100 ce was a centre of commerce and learning during the time of the mali th16th century and songhai 15th16th century empires. It is a stunning example of malian mud mosque architecture, a style of architecture which to my mind, is straight out of some amazing fairytale, writ large, very large. The african continent is divided into two parts in respect of architecture. The most notable days at the great mosque of djenne are market days, when the square in front of the mosque fills with vendors and shoppers.
Architecture of mosques and islamic centers in nonmuslim. Protecting architectural heritage in djenne journal of african. The art of mud building reaches its zenith in djenne, an island town. Architecture is that the art and science of designing buildings. Its design is accredited to abu es haq es saheli who was paid 200 kg 40,000 mithqals of gold by musa i of mali, emperor of the mali empire. Mud, materiality, and meaning in the djenne mosque.
Djingereyber mosque in timbuktu, as well as the public spaces around them. The mosque has been preserved till now thanks to the yearly community effort of maintenance coordinated by the bareyton, the local corporation of traditional masons, holding technical capacities in earthen architecture but also considered to have magical powers. The great mosque at djenn the great mosque at djenn its impact today as a model the great mosque at djenne is without a doubt the model that inspired the architecture of the awardwinning mosque of niono, mali. The annual crepissage of the great mosque in djenne 260. The design of the great mosque of djenne is full of religious symbolism. The djenne mosque, the epitome of sudanese architecture, is the largest mud building in the world. Architecture of the subsaharan civilizations boundless. Great mosque of djenne designing buildings wiki share your construction industry knowledge.
The great mosque at djenne is without a doubt the model that inspired the architecture of the awardwinning mosque of niono, mali. Interior of great mosque of djenne juan manuel garcia, flickr cc by 2. The mosque is located in the city of djenne, mali, on the flood plain of the bani river. The architect, ismaila traore, the citys chief mason and a muslim, used traditional materials, including the palm. The great mosque of djenne is a large banco or adobe building that is considered by many architects to be one of the greatest. The oldest mud and sticks mosque of africa in larabanga, ghana by steevun. Great mosque of djenne flashcards and study sets quizlet. Not to mention, people of djenne are very welcoming and very hospitable. Choose from 73 different sets of great mosque of djenne flashcards on quizlet. In order to know more about the various influences that finally led to this. The magnificent mudbrick mosques of west africa amusing. The outstanding mosque of great monumental and religious value is an outstanding example of this.
The great mosque of djenne is the largest mud brick or adobe building in the world and is considered by many architects to be the greatest achievement of the sudanosahelian architectural style, with definite islamic influences. As others have suggested, pay a very small amount to go to the top of a neighbours house so that you can get a better perspective. Apr 19, 2012 the great mosque in djenne, mali, a revered religious monument constructed almost entirely from sundried mud bricks coated with clay, is undergoing a restoration that has created local conflicts. Arab africa contains five countries, in order from east to west, egypt, libya, tunisia, algeria, and morocco. The great mosque in djenne, mali the new york times. Djenne mali inside the mosque love the dark and light areas of the inside interior. Martin gray is a cultural anthropologist, writer and photographer specializing in the study and documentation of pilgrimage places around the world. Sep 05, 2014 like hundreds of other buildings in djenne, the great mosque is made of mud. Great mosque of djenne is one of the symbols of mali and whole africa the largest adobe building in the world, the highest achievement of sudanosahelian architecture style. If youre behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains.
The oldest mudplaster and wood mosque of africa in larabanga, ghana by steevun. The national park of mali, below which seeks to provide a muchneeded public green space in bamako, features an inner. This is build as a most even though the it environment host a great wekly market and. In djenne, home of the worlds largest mud building, built by a prominent icon of religious and spiritual leader, shk omar futy. The bold compositions and molten contours of its monumental architecture have earned djenne an esteemed position among. The mosque of djenne, mali djenne, the oldest known city in subsaharan africa is situated on the floodlands of the niger and bani rivers, 354 kilometers 220 miles southwest of timbuktu. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Djenne mosque in west africa, still standing upright since 1907, although made from mud. The structure demonstrates characteristics of mosque architecture. Fiftytwo feet high and built on a 300foot long platform to protect it from flooding, the mosque is the worlds largest mudbrick building. The town is renowned for its civic constructions, with the distinctive style of verticality and buttresses as well as the elegant. Aktc started with the restoration of the great mosques of djenne and mopti and the. In fact, the whole historic town of djenne has been built from this mud architecture since the 14th century, in. Jan 11, 2011 the great mosque of djenne, mali, is a magnet for tourists, but it is increasingly difficult for locals to live a normal life around it. Brick, cement, or concrete, fair use as building material. Sep 17, 2019 this mosque is one of the highlights of mali. Common types of mosque architecture article khan academy.
This is the highest score a response can earn if it does not discuss both features of the great mosque of djenne that are distinctive to mosque architecture and how mosque architecture relates to the practices of islam. Sep 17, 2019 even in mali, i was very much looking forward to dogon country, and while it was great, it wasnt the showstopper for me. Mosque, djenne, mali traditional architecture, islamic. Djenne city is located in mali, west africa, keep the magic of a mosque. Great mud mosque of djenne djenne, mali atlas obscura. The mosque covers around 5,025 square meters of area and is built slightly higher than the plain land to save it from bani rivers flood. Islamic architecture in mali, west africa djenne, timbuktu. The first mosque on this site was built in the th century and the. Mosques built in parts of the muslim world where arabs migrated or took control of through wars developed a distinct tradition of domes and minarets. The town is famous for its distinctive adobe architecture, most notably the great mosque which was built in 1907 on the site of an earlier mosque. This gothic styled architecture is a catholic cathedral. It is one of the oldest structures still standing from the time muslims ruled alandalus.
The commune includes ten of the surrounding villages and in 2009 had a population of 32,944. Through the years djenne also became the centres of islamic scholarship, and its market square is still dominated by the beautiful great mosque. Still has a practicing congregation political symbol to europe epicenter for religious and cultural life location of crepissage, a festival dedicated to the replastering of the mosque. However, this explanation lacks specificity in referencing the architectural feature. Living heritage and earth architecture of djenne field. Great mud mosque of djenne copy link facebook twitter reddit flipboard pocket. This mosque is considered one of africas most beautiful landmarks because of its unique construction. The adaptable landscape architecture of africas historical. Great mosque in djenne, the largest mudbrick building in. Although its age is yet to be determined, there are plans underway to restore and protect the mosque. The work shown is the great mosque of djenne, which was founded in mali c.
The great mosque of djenne is a banco or adobe building located in mali, on the flood plain of the bani river. Learn great mosque of djenne with free interactive flashcards. Seeing it really made you feel you were witnessing something very unique. Although the current structure is only a hundred year old, the original mosque dates back to the th century. The great mosque of djenne is considered to be a masterpiece of earth architecture and the sudanosahelian architectural style. From the djenne mosque in mali to the nkruhma memorial in ghana, the region has. Aug 11, 2019 great mosque of djenne designing buildings wiki share your construction industry knowledge.
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