Constructed of banco—sun-dried earth—the Djingarey Ber Mosque is among Africa’s oldest earthen buildings still in use. Its striking Sahelian form earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1989; in 2012, after armed groups damaged monuments in Timbuktu, it was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger.
This year’s annual replastering carried extra weight: the mosque’s 700th anniversary. “It coincides with the 700th anniversary, and we’re performing the same ritual to ensure the mosque’s durability,” said Bilal Mahamane Traoré of Timbuktu’s traditional masons’ guild. The event blends restoration with reflection and community. “Everyone participates—women, youth, elders—it’s also a way to teach the next generation,” noted Issaka Nazoum, president of the Timbuktu Regional Council.
By pairing the festive replastering with the anniversary, organizers underscore a simple truth the city has lived for centuries: resilience is maintained by many hands—keeping faith, craft, and history alive one handful of earth at a time.
