The Great Mosque of Djenne is found in the Djenne, Mali. The mosque is built in a Sahelian architectural style and it is the world’s largest building to be constructed with mud brick. The first mosque on this site was built in the 13th century and the present building was built in the year 1907. It is also one of Africa’s major landmarks and it was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1998.

The first mosque on this site was built in between 1200-1300, some earlier documents show that al-Sadi’s Tarikh al-Sudan describing the mosque which was recorded in the 17th century. This document describe the construction of the mosque and how Sultan Kunburu had converted into Islam. At first the sultan built a mosque and bounding walls to the east and later his successor had added towers to the mosque.

The present structure of the mosque was built in the year 1906. The mosque was built under the supervision of Ismalia Traore and the outer walls of the mosque were built similar to the walls that were built in the 13th century. The terrace on the mosque features two tombs,

The walls of the mosque are built of mud bricks and is coated with mud plaster that adds smooth looks to the building. The walls are ornamented with palm tree sticks known as “toron”. The mosque’s platform measures about 75 meters wide and it is about three meters high. The entry to the mosque is from the northern side.

The prayer wall faces towards the east and it features three massive minarets. The eastern wall here is of 3 ft thick and it is made stronger by adding eighteen pilasters. The prayer hall features irregular windows that allows light inside the hall.

In the present day, the Great Mosque of Djenne is a sacred destination to many muslims. A yearly festival is held at the mosque that includes food and music. In addition a race is held here where the participants runs and climbs on the mosque to deliver plaster on the damaged areas.

The Mopti Mosque is situated in the City of Mopti, Mali. The mosque features a covered building, three meters high wall and a courtyard. The mosque is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2009.

The present structure of the mosque was built in between the years 1936-1943 on the same site of a mosque that was built in the year 1908. It was built Sudanese style and the designs are mostly symmetrical and vertical compared to the other mosques.

The Mopti Mosque was also listed as a National Monument by the Malian Government in the year 2005. Some parts of the mosque have been damaged over the years and the repair works have been done to the mosque in between 2004-2006 under the supervision of Aga Khan Foundation.

In the present days the Mopti Mosque is one of the sacred places. It is visited by people from all over the world. The mosque is opens to public from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The mosque remains closed to the public on Fridays and on festivals.

Timbuktu City is located in the Tombouctou Region, Mali. The city is the home for several madrasas(arabic for educational institution) and Sankore University. The city is Africa’s spiritual capital and the main center for Islam between the 15th and 16th centuries. The city features three major mosques which are Sankore, Sidi Yahya and Djingareyber.

The people here are Fulani, Songhay, Mande and Tuareg. The Timbuktu City has also contributed a lot for Islam and it is also the first place in the world to feature a university. Timbuktu also features a number of texts belonging to the ancient Greek period and these texts were copied and written in the books belonging to the 14th century.

Timbuktu was founded in the 10th century by the nomadic Tuaregs. At this period the city prospered and a number of buildings were built and the only means of traveling is by a camel. In the 13th and 14th centuries Timbuktu had emerged as a major port city. In the year 1581 the Sankore University was built and it became a major center for Islam.

In the present day, Timbuktu is a modern town and one of the major tourist spots with an international airport. In the year 1988 Timbuktu was also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The major places to be seen here are

Djinguereber Mosque
The mosque was built in the year 1327. Some parts of the mosque were built of limestone, wood, fiber, and straw. The mosque features two minarets, three courts and about 25 pillars.

Sidi Yahya Mosque
The Sidi Yahya Mosque was built in the year 1440. It features massive doors at the entrance and pillars of about three rows that faces towards the north-south. The courtyard features a tall minaret and a cemetery which is not in use.

The Dogon People can be found on central plateau area in Mali. The population at 800,000, these people are well known for their architecture, wooden sculpture, mask dances and mythology.

There are about 700 villages in Mali where the Dogon live. These villages measures 200 kilometers long and stretches towards the Bandiagara cliffs. The Dogon People are Animists; although some have converted to either Christianity or Islam.

The main occupation of the Dogon People is agriculture and they adopt different methods of farming. The major crops grown here are onions, rice, tobacco, millets, sorrel and beans. In addition flocks of sheep and goats are also seen here. The Dogon People comprises of three groups which are Ono, Domno, Arou and the Dyon.

A village feature a number of family groups with the father as head of the family. A man may marry more that one woman but not more than two.

The villages feature a number of communities and the people here gather at a place known as “Togu”. The people gather here and settle their disputes. The oldest living descendant here is known as “Gina Bana”. He conducts ceremonies and presides over the meetings here.

The oldest village founder is known as Hogon and he is also the main person in the village. He looks after the welfare of the village and dispenses justice amongst the people of the village. Majority of the Dogon are spiritual tribe and also they worship their dead ancestors for guidance.

The buildings in the villages are mainly constructed of mud. Their architecture is unique and the huts here feature flat roofs. Also a sequence of cemeteries is seen on the cliffs and the only way to reach here is through the ladders. For its cultural importance the Dogon region is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.