adminDJENNE, Mali (@IFL) — In a breathtaking display of unity and tradition, thousands of Malians gathered this weekend to partake in the annual ritual that sustains the very heart of their heritage. With buckets and jugs filled with precious mud, they converged upon the Great Mosque of Djenne, the world’s largest mud-brick edifice, to renew its splendor.
In a timeless dance of duty and devotion, women and girls trekked to the river, drawing life-giving water to mix with clay, crafting the sacred mud. Meanwhile, men and boys ascended the mosque’s grand facade, their hands working fervently to apply the new layer that would shield this magnificent structure from the ravages of time and nature.
Since 2016, the Great Mosque of Djenne has stood as a sentinel on UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list, its existence threatened by the turmoil that grips the land. A historical beacon of Islamic scholarship, Djenne and its iconic mosque face peril from the ceaseless conflict between Islamist rebels, government forces, and myriad factions.
Each year, before the rains of June descend, the mosque demands a fresh coat of mud. This ritual is more than mere maintenance; it is a lifeline. Without it, the mosque would crumble, succumbing to disrepair. Once a magnet for tens of thousands of tourists, Djenne’s allure has dimmed, its tourism industry a shadow of its former self.
Yet, amid this stark reality, the resolve to preserve the mosque remains unyielding. “The maintenance of the mosque must continue at any cost,” declared Moussa Moriba Diakité, head of Djenne’s cultural mission. The specter of insecurity looms large, casting doubt over the event’s future. “A lot of people talk about insecurity, and we hear that we can’t come to Djenne because there is insecurity,” he lamented.
However, the replastering of the mosque stands as a potent symbol of peace and solidarity. “The poor, the rich, everyone is here for this activity,” proclaimed Amadou Ampate Cisse, a devoted resident. “We will continue this tradition from generation to generation. We will pass it on to our children and they in turn will do the same.”
In the shadow of a relentless insurgency spanning Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where armed groups aligned with al-Qaida and the Islamic State sow chaos, the cultural heartbeat of Djenne endures. Recent military coups have reshaped the region’s power dynamics, expelling French forces and ushering in Russian mercenaries for security.
Amidst this turbulence, the Great Mosque of Djenne stands resilient, a testament to the enduring spirit of those who refuse to let their heritage fade into the annals of history. This annual ritual, a convergence of faith, culture, and community, ensures that the legacy of Djenne will endure, a beacon of hope and unity in a land torn asunder.
