Djenné
Djenné is a city with the Mali, chief town of circle, located in the 5 {{E}} area (Mopti) at 574 kilometers of Bamako.
Djenné is with the hinge between the wandering world and the sedentary world. It is located at 130 km of Mopti, and at 500 km by inland waterway of the caravan city of Tombouctou on which it is commercially dependant.
Its name means “spirit of the waters” in bozo.
Coordinates (esplanade of the mosque): north 13° 54 ' 21.72" west 4° 33 ' 17.80" .
Geography
Djenné is built on an island of 88 hectares, between two arms of the Bani, affluent of the Niger. It is located at the end of a dam of 23 km which is completed on the edges of the Bani. To join the main roads which connect Bamako to Mopti, it is necessary to borrow a vat.Djenné knows a climate of the type sahélien. Annual precipitations are in averages of 400 and 600 Misters.
The town of Djenné counts 14.196 inhabitants in 2005 against 10.275 in 1976. Various ethnos groups are present at Djenné: Sonrhaï, Peuls, Bambaras, Sarakolés, Bozos, Dogons and Mossi.
History
The area was occupied as from the 3rd century before JC, as testify some the many archeological sites (65 listed) in a radius of 5 km around the current city. Most important are Kaniana, Tonomba and Djenné-Djenno, regarded as the old city of Djenné.The town of Djenné was built near Djenné-Djenno at the end of IXe century by bozos. A legend tells that a named young girl Tapama Dienepo was locked up alive in the enclosing wall of the city in order to protect the city and to ensure prosperity of it.
Into 1280, king Koi Koumboro is converted with the Islam and makes build in Djenné its prestigious mosque. Into the 13th century, the city is integrated into the Empire of Mali.
In 1443, it is conquered by the Touaregs then by the Empire songhaï in 1470. In 1591, the Morocco seizes Djenné. In 1670, Djenné belongs to the Royaume will bambara of Ségou.
Djenné is conquered by Sékou Amadou (Empire peul of Macina) in 1819, then by the Empire toucoulor of El Hadj Oumar Tall in 1862 before being is taken by the troops of Louis Archinard in 1893 during the colonial penetration French and integrated into the French Sudan.
The city was during its history in the middle of the expansion of Islam in Black Africa.
Djenné was always a crossroads for the Trans-Saharan trade. The goods coming from north, in particular the jewels and rock salt were exchanged against the products of the south, cola nuts, gold and the ivory. Nowadays still, the market which is held each Monday is most important of the area.
The large mosque
See also: Large mosque of Djenné
Towards 1280, Koi Komboro, king de Djenné converts with Islam. It destroys its palate and made there build in the place large a Mosquée.
In 1819, Djenné is annexed to the Empire peul of Macina of Sékou Amadou which makes destroy the mosque to build a news of it. In 1906, the colonial governor French William Ponty accepts, at the request of the marabout Almamy Sonfo, to rebuild with identical the old mosque of king Koi Komboro. The work, started in October 1906, will be completed on October 1st 1907.
The large mosque can accommodate approximately 1000 faithful. It measures 75 meters on side and 20 meters height. Its roof is supported by 100 pillars. Entirely realized in bank value, the mosque profits each year from a rough-casting in which all the inhabitants of the city take part.
The mosque is typical architecture Sudan is born which inspires the masons Bozo S, those draw from the lines of this monument the spirit of the new mosques.
Structure
The specific architecture of the town of Djenné allowed the inscription in 1988 of this city on the Liste of the world heritage of UNESCO.
The buildings are built in Banco. Pieces of wood, them “will terrons” cross the walls. The masons of the family of Barri are the uncontested Masters of the architecture of Djenné.
The researcher and architect Abdoulaye Touré explain that elements in frontages represent the various elements of the family: father, mother and children. Thus the number of points corresponds to the number of children.
The houses, which generally include/understand a stage, can have a frontage toucoulor (with a hood) or Morrocan woman. Today, in spite of the protection imposed by the inscription on the list of the world heritage, of modern cement constructions denature the old city.
Administration
The commune of Djenné, includes/understands the town of Djenné and the villages of Balled, Diabolo, Gomnikouboye, Kamaraga, Kéra, Niala, Velingara, Souala, Syn and Yenleda. Djenné is twinned with the French city of Vitré (Ille-et-Vilaine) since 1987. The circle of Djenné includes/understands the communes of Dandougoufakala, Déraby, Djenné, Fakala, Femayé, Kewa, Madiama, Nema Badenyakafo, Niansanarié, Ouro Ali, Pondory and Togué Mourari.
External bonds
- Djenné on the site of the Organization of the cities of world heritage (OVPM).
- Protection of the cultural heritage: the architecture of Djenné, a richness which dies
- Site of association Djenné-Inheritance
- Site of memory of Africa section Djenné
- Site of Djenné on the site of Aluka
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