Mopti

The Mosque, which was officially listed as part of the country’s cultural heritage in 2005, is an imposing earthen structure built in the traditional Sudanese style between 1936 and 1943 on the site of an earlier mosque dating from 1908.

The restoration work comprised a number of different phases:

• the complete reconstruction of the roof;


• stabilisation of the upper part of the building, which had been damaged by the inappropriate use of cement in a previous restoration effort in 1978;


• repairing the earthen brickwork, removing damaged sections and rebuilding them with traditional earthen bricks;


• applying a traditional coating made by mixing earth with rice husks – called banco pourri – to the external walls;


• replacing the earth bricks along the building facades;


• rebuilding the parapet and the pinnacles of the terrace;


• removing and partly renovating the outer earthen coatings, which were in a state of disrepair; and


• renovating the outer courtyard.

Plumbing was installed in the courtyard along with a fountain for worshippers’ use.

The interior of the Mosque has also been substantially improved: the floor has been completely rehabilitated; renovation work on the staircase has made it easy to access the terrace; and new public address, lighting, ventilation and electrical systems have been installed. The Mosque was also given new doors made of high-quality seasoned wood.

This restoration work was undertaken in conjunction with the National Cultural Heritage Department of Mali’s Ministry of Culture, regional authorities, the city of Mopti and the Mosque’s committee. The local authorities also helped with the selection of experienced bricklayers, as well as young apprentices who were trained in construction and restoration techniques during the project. This restoration work was, amongst other projects, a part of a Memorandum of Cooperation signed with Mali’s Ministry of Culture, relating to the conservation of Mali’s earthen architecture.

At the same time, an Agreement of Cooperation broadened the work to include health, education, rural development, civil society and economic development. These programmes include the improvement of environmental health through water and sanitation and other measures to reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases (see Social Development for details).

A visitor centre designed to be part of the tourism infrastructure is also being built.

Timbuktu

Following the work in Mopti, AKTC initiated comprehensive conservation works on the Djingareyber Mosque in Timbuktu at the end of 2006. The mosque, built in the 14th century, is the oldest earth construction building in sub-Saharan Africa. Officially listed as part of Mali’s cultural heritage, it was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.

Because the mosque is constantly subject to the depredations of a harsh, arid climate, we worked to reverse the deterioration of this important landmark and to develop existing technical capabilities through training.

The project included:

• conservation of the building’s roof, minaret and exterior facades;


• conservation of the building’s interior prayer space, with improvement of the existing electrical, ventilation and sound systems;


• on-the-job training of local craftsmen and apprentices in traditional earth building techniques and in new restoration methods; and


• technical assistance to local authorities for the post-construction phase.

Djenné

Djenné, founded by merchants in the ninth century (near the site of an older city dating back to 250 B.C.) is the oldest known city in sub-Saharan Africa. Its historic centre, where more than 2,000 traditional houses have survived, was also designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

AKTC’s work in Djenné began in 2006, when a preliminary study of the Great Mosque revealed that despite its well-known annual maintenance process, it was at risk of collapsing. In an attempt to make the mosque structure watertight, each year more “banco” – a mix of mud and rice chaff – was placed on the walls and on the roof. Over 500 tonnes of banco were creating pressure on the roof and walls.

AKTC’s conservation of the Mosque, which began at the end of 2008, encompassed the complete rehabilitation of the roof, restoration of the mud-brick load-bearing wall structure and the complete replacement of the interior lighting, ventilation and sound systems.

In reversing the deterioration of this important landmark, AKTC has been working with the local corporation of masons, the “barey-ton”, to revive traditional construction techniques and develop technical capabilities through training.

As in Mopti, Phase 2 encompassed the improvement of public spaces, the installation of water and sanitation, and other measures designed to improve the quality of life in the area. From 2017, work targeted the full spectrum of solid waste management, from deposit points in the community to transport carriages and to the construction of a pedestrian bridge crossing a flooded area during monsoon and of a final waste deposit. Rainwater management and sanitation were improved in the district of Djoboro and new paving was introduced for the marketplace, adjacent to the Great Mosque.