Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali is one of the wonders of Africa, and one of the most unique religious buildings in the world, the Great Mosque of Djenné, in present-day Mali, is also the greatest achievement of Sudano-Sahelian architecture (Sudano-Sahelian refers to the Sudanian and Sahel grassland of West Africa). It is also the largest mud-built structure in the world. We experience its monumentality from afar as it dwarfs the city of Djenné. Imagine arriving at the towering mosque from the neighborhoods of low-rise adobe houses that comprise the city. Djenné was founded between 800 and 1250 C.E., and it flourished as a great center of commerce, learning, and Islam, which had been practiced from the beginning of the 13th century. Soon thereafter, the Great Mosque became one of the most important buildings in town primarily because it became a political symbol for local residents and for colonial powers like the French who took control of Mali in 1892. Over the centuries, the Great Mosque has become the epicenter of the religious and cultural life of Mali, and the community of Djenné. It is also the site of a unique annual festival called the Crepissage de la Grand Mosquée (Plastering of the Great Mosque). The Great Mosque that we see today is its third reconstruction, completed in 1907. According to legend, the original Great Mosque was probably erected in the 13th century, when King Koi Konboro—Djenné’s twenty-sixth ruler and its first Muslim sultan (king)—decided to use local materials and traditional design techniques to build a place of Muslim worship in town. King Konboro’s successors and the town’s rulers added two towers to the mosque and surrounded the main building with a wall. The mosque compound continued to expand over the centuries, and by the 16th century, popular accounts claimed half of Djenné’s population could fit in the mosque’s galleries.

What an incredibly astounding and remarkable place. The mosque and old town are historic heritage sites. The sand in the mosque is turned over once a year, and the prayer carpets were donated by the citizens. You can access a rooftop view by kindly asking (my guide asked), one of the adjacent citizens’ houses. On Monday, it overlooks the large market, where many villagers hawk their goods. To visit the inside, you give whatever donation you can, and a clergyman will walk you through the men and women sections. Women will need a head cover.

As one of the wonders of Africa, and one of the most unique religious buildings in the world, the Great Mosque of Djenné, in present-day Mali, is also the greatest achievement of Sudano-Sahelian architecture (Sudano-Sahelian refers to the Sudanian and Sahel grassland of West Africa). It is also the largest mud-built structure in the world. We experience its monumentality from afar as it dwarfs the city of Djenné. Imagine arriving at the towering mosque from the neighborhoods of low-rise adobe houses that comprise the city. Djenné was founded between 800 and 1250 C.E., and it flourished as a great center of commerce, learning, and Islam, which had been practiced from the beginning of the 13th century. Soon thereafter, the Great Mosque became one of the most important buildings in town primarily because it became a political symbol for local residents and for colonial powers like the French who took control of Mali in 1892. Over the centuries, the Great Mosque has become the epicenter of the religious and cultural life of Mali, and the community of Djenné. It is also the site of a unique annual festival called the Crepissage de la Grand Mosquée (Plastering of the Great Mosque). The Great Mosque that we see today is its third reconstruction, completed in 1907. According to legend, the original Great Mosque was probably erected in the 13th century, when King Koi Konboro—Djenné’s twenty-sixth ruler and its first Muslim sultan (king)—decided to use local materials and traditional design techniques to build a place of Muslim worship in town. King Konboro’s successors and the town’s rulers added two towers to the mosque and surrounded the main building with a wall. The mosque compound continued to expand over the centuries, and by the 16th century, popular accounts claimed half of Djenné’s population could fit in the mosque’s galleries.

La Grande Mosquée de Djenné, située à Djenné, au Mali, est la plus grande structure en briques crues au monde et un exemple parfait de l'architecture soudano-sahélienne. Elle est à la fois un lieu de culte actif et un symbole culturel du riche héritage islamique du Mali. Classé au patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO en 1988, son architecture combine les influences islamiques et les techniques locales, démontrant l'ingéniosité des pratiques de construction traditionnelles de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. On pense qu'il a été construit avec des briques de boue séchées au soleil, du plâtre d'argile et du bois de palmier pour renforcer la structure. Caractéristiques : Trois minarets proéminents surmontés d'œufs d'autruche (symboles de fertilité), des toits plats soutenus par des poutres en bois et des arabesques complexes. Intérieur : Une grande salle de prière pouvant accueillir jusqu'à 3 000 fidèles, soutenue par des colonnes en bois. L'histoire de la mosquée remonte au XIIIe siècle, avec d'importantes reconstructions, dont une majeure en 1907 pendant la période coloniale française. Chaque année, la communauté locale participe au festival du crépissage, en réparant l'enduit de boue - une tradition qui symbolise l'unité culturelle. La structure est vulnérable aux éléments et aux intempéries, et nécessite un entretien constant. L'UNESCO et les initiatives locales jouent un rôle clé dans la préservation de la mosquée, en formant les artisans aux méthodes traditionnelles et en promouvant son patrimoine.

The Great Mosque of Djenné (French: Grande mosquée de Djenné, Arabic: الجامع الكبير في جينيه‎) is a large banco or adobe building that is considered by many architects to be one of the greatest achievements of the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style. The mosque is located in the city of Djenné, Mali, on the flood plain of the Bani River. The first mosque on the site was built around the 13th century, but the current structure dates from 1907. As well as being the centre of the community of Djenné, it is one of the most famous landmarks in Africa. Along with the "Old Towns of Djenné" it was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.

Really cool! I recommend finding a guide to see this mosque because the details and history of it are quite fascinating. It's an extremely impressive and picturesque structure.

The locals told me that there had been no tourists for a long time. After the tour, I just want to say to protect and take care of it. (Visit the Monday market as well.)

It is out of this world. Architecture at its finest! A most visit if in Mali. Just brilliance..

I have never visited The Great Mosque of Djenne in person, yet I have watched many television documentaries. It is by far the largest building in the entire world made of mud. What happens when it rains you may be asking- Seeing it is in the middle of our planets largest desert, this problem does not come up to often and when it does, the entire community comes together to gather, mix and apply fresh mud to shore up the damage the rain brings to the mosques massive walls. Don’t go buying a ticket and picking your seat by the emergency exit just yet, westerners are not allowed inside due to a film company violating the great building by filming an illegal type of film years ago.

A sacred mud-brick building that towers over an ancient trading city in West Africa. The first mud-brick Great Mosque at the Malian town of Djenné was built around 700 years ago. The current building was constructed in 1906–1907, when Mali was ruled by a French colonial administration. A local master-builder, Ismaila Traoré, was responsible for the work, employing long-established mud-building techniques. A changing structure. The bricks of the mosque were made by mixing mud and sand with husks and straw, then drying them in sunshine. The flat earthen roof is supported by pillars rising from the sand floor. The walls are protected against the elements by a layer of plaster, composed of river silt mixed with other materials that may include dry rice husks and cow manure. The plaster has to be reapplied almost every year, an activity that has become a ceremony in which the whole community joins. The constant repairs to the structure mean that the detail of its appearance is ever changing.

the largest clay-bearing building in the world

Very beautiful Mosque Djenne Mali 🇲🇱

Water resistance Djenne mosque 😊, Mali 🇲🇱

Lieu saint et histoire. Datant de 1907

Una experiencia única.

Best mosque in the world wish to visit this mosque inshallah one day I go there

The most beautiful sandcastle ever made

Great choice of a world heritage. Thank you for promoting Mali.

the world's largest mud-brick (adobe) building

Very good never been studying it in class 😝

TRT belgeselde izledim ve etkilendim cenne camii görmek istiyorum inşallah nasip olur.

Mad of mud I could do better.

Madiama