250 BCE-1280 CE
Djenne, and the four smaller towns at Djenne-Djeno, Hambarketolo, Tonomba and Kaniana are located in the middle reaches of the inland delta of the Niger River in central Mali. They are remarkable towns, built almost entirely of river mud and other natural materials on mounds in the delta (which prevents them from being flooded at high water). The most famous of Djenne’s buildings is the Grand Mosque, the largest mud-built structure in the world, re-constructed in 1907 on the site of an original structure dating from 1280. Historically, the area has been settled since 250 BC, but the town of Djenne only really grew to prominence during the 15th and 16th centuries when, alongside Timbuktu, it was involved in the trans-Sahara gold trade, and became a major centre for Islam.
Djenne, Mali
How far back?
2020 | Present