Context

region is Western Sudan
result of mixing cultures during Arab colonization of North Africa
mud was the traditional building material in Mali
city of Djenne is cultural center
- center of trade and Arab learning
- established between 800 and 1100 CE

Religious Significance

built when the ruler of Djenne reverted to Islam
masjid (mosque, Islamic place of worship)
- contains Eastern quibla wall
  - faces in the direction to Mecca
  - facing East in Djenne
created to accomodate large number of people for Friday prayers
- (Friday is the holy day of the week in Islam)

adobe material
- mixture of mud and straw
- traditional building local material
- decorated lavishly on exterior
  - destroyed by later ruler for nontraditional style
    - later constructed more humble structure
    - reconstructed in original style between 1906 and 1907
- adobe is temporal building material, reworking is necessary
  - French explorer Rene Caillie wrote that the masjid fell into disrepair
    - probably encountered the structure after not being replastered for several years
staircase
- symbolizes passage from ordinary ground into elevated sacred space
hypostyle hall
- interior with many pillars
  - seen also in Egyptian sacred boat room
- much larger than other Western Sudanese masjids
torons
- functionally decorative wood posts on exterior

minarets

crepissage

annual cultural activity of replastering walls
- adobe material is temporal and requires upkeep
- community is brought together in activity
torons are used for scaling the wall for replastering
- men undertake the plastering
mud plaster
- created from kneading fine clay from river soils
- prepared by women
music and festivity
- musicians play songs for entertaining laborers
maintaining culture against foreign forces to change