The great legacy of Mali and the people’s quest to preserve it
In collaboration with
A cultural hub in the desert
From the ancient libraries of the Sahara...
Africa's Greatest Written Legacy
Immerse yourself in 40,000+ digitized pages of the Timbuktu manuscripts
…to the sounds of the Sahel
Mali's beating heart is its music
Mali's rich culture has lasted millennia...
Step inside Mali's medieval mosques
...and is shaping the future
A culture at the cutting edge
M is for...
Welcome to the West African homeland of academia, music, architecture and art
"In the dark night of our present existence, manuscripts are the searchlights that probe our past."Dr. Abdel Kader Haidara, guardian of the manuscripts
The literary oasis in the desert
Discover a precious manuscript collection and its preservation
The birthplace of the blues
The evolution of storytelling through music
The dances in danger
Your invitation to Mali's rhythmic rituals at risk
Living to the Beat
In Mali, music is the link between people and instruments, life and death, and past, present and future
The disappearing instruments
The sounds that once gave warrior kings their courage are fading
The beat goes on
Why musical traditions are at risk of dying out forever, and the efforts to keep them alive
Striking a chord for peace
Coping with conflict and remaining resilient with Malian music
Fine-tuning the future
Promoting peace and prosperity with music
Press play on Maliba, The Great Mali
Grammy nominee Fatoumata Diawara's lastest record tells her country's story
The making of musical legacy
How the '60s and '70s became Mali's golden musical era
Music festival meets muddy tradition
With great mosques come great responsibility
Restorations of a rich heritage
How UNESCO and local masons worked together to restore Timbuktu after it was destroyed by terrorists
Embark on a virtual voyage
Start exploring marvellous mosques and incredible architecture
Explore more historic mosques
Look around every nook and cranny with Street View
Enter one of Africa's oldest cities
Discover Djenné, the seat of ancient empires, converging trade routes, and great West African kings
On the brink of degeneration
The threats to the survival of the unique city of Djenné
Inspiration from disarray
Mali's modern art scene is ripe with artists with new perspectives