**Fatshimetrie announces the annual renewal of the Great Mosque of Djenné in 2022**
Fatshimetrie is pleased to share with you the news of the annual renewal of the Great Mosque of Djenné, a significant event for the preservation of this emblematic monument. Located in the heart of Mali, this mud mosque is the largest earthen building in the world. Listed on UNESCO’s list of world heritage in danger since 2016, its regular renovation is of crucial importance for its conservation.
The city of Djenné, once a historic center of Islamic learning, faces major challenges due to persistent insecurity in the country’s central region. After Islamist rebels occupied northern Mali in 2012, French forces managed to push them back the following year. However, an Islamist insurgency gradually spread from the north to the center and south of the country over the following decade.
In 2022, Mali’s main military camp, located just 15 kilometers from Bamako, was attacked by Islamist militants, highlighting the complex nature of the security challenges facing the country.
Despite these difficulties, the community of Djenné remains dedicated to the preservation of its iconic mosque. Every year, before the start of the rainy season in June, the Grand Mosque must be covered with a new layer of mud to prevent its degradation. This detailed work is carried out by the entire city during a community event.
The men and boys are responsible for climbing the mosque to apply the new layer of banco, while the women and girls are responsible for fetching water from the nearby river to make the mud needed for the event. . This tradition, which once attracted thousands of tourists each year, is now threatened by growing insecurity in the region.
Amadou Ampate Cisse, a resident of Djenné participating in the event, highlights the symbolic importance of the renovation of the mosque for peace and community unity. He expresses his determination to perpetuate this tradition across generations, despite the challenges facing the city.
Moussa Moriba Diakité, head of the cultural mission of Djenné, insists on the urgency of protecting this world heritage site. Despite the almost total disappearance of the tourism industry in Djenné due to insecurity, the renovation of the mosque must continue at all costs to preserve Mali’s cultural heritage.
In this year marked by uncertainties and challenges, the city of Djenné continues to face the future with determination and resilience. The annual renovation of the Grand Mosque remains a source of hope and pride for its residents, who are determined to preserve this cultural treasure for future generations.