The Great Mosque of Djenné

The first structure was erected sometime between the 13th and 14th centuries, when Islam was waxing in Djenné through trans-Saharan trade links. The mosque prospered along with the city, benefitting from the community of Islamic scholars that developed in the Koran schools surrounding the site. The current building dates from 1907, rising from the ruins of an earlier mosque which had fallen into disrepair in the Fulani Empire of the early 19th century. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

This wall, also known as a qibla, is the wall faced during prayers, as it indicates the direction of Mecca. The three central towers are minarets, the central one containing a special room from which a crier used to repeat the words of the Imam to the crowd in the square outside.

This imposing entrance to the mosque’s outer courtyard is named after the traditional elite of Djennenké society, who are still forbidden from engaging in certain professions or marrying certain families. But you do not have to be a noble to pass through this gate!

The large square structure in the front courtyard is a tomb which contains the remains of Imam Almany Ismaïla, an important figure in 18th century Djenné.

The top of the minarets are crowned with ostrich eggs, a traditional symbol of creation and resurrection.

90 pillars support this vast space, which is simple and unadorned. Thick adobe walls and ventilation systems ensure the faithful keep cool, even in the summer months!

An additional space for prayer.

The Imam of the Great Mosque is currently Yelpha Djeité, who is also one of the head librarians in the Djenné Manuscript Library. He is also the Grand Marabout of Djenné - head teacher of the town's 50 Koran schools and a prescriber of 'good magic' (like love potions). Yelpha's numerous jobs represent the traditional convergance in Djenné of Islam, scholarship and magic.