Timbuktu marks 700 years of Djingarey Ber mosque with annual replastering ritual
Hundreds of residents in the ancient city of Timbuktu gathered this week to replaster the Djingarey Ber mosque, a centuries-old tradition
TIMBUKTU, Mali (MNTV) — Hundreds of residents in the ancient city of Timbuktu gathered this week to replaster the Djingarey Ber mosque, a centuries-old tradition that this year carries added significance as the landmark prepares to mark its 700th anniversary in 2025.
Built in 1325 under Emperor Mansa Musa, the Djingarey Ber mosque is one of Africa’s oldest earthen buildings still in use. Constructed from banco, a sun-dried earth material, the mosque’s distinctive Sahelian design earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1989.
Each year, Timbuktu’s residents — men, women and children alike — come together to restore the structure by applying a fresh layer of mud plaster to its walls, helping it withstand the desert’s harsh climate.
“This year is exceptional,” said Bilal Mahamane Traoré, spokesperson for Timbuktu’s traditional masons’ guild. “It coincides with the 700th anniversary, and we’re performing the same ritual to ensure the mosque’s durability.”
The mosque and several other monuments in Timbuktu were damaged during the city’s 2012 occupation by militant groups, prompting UNESCO to add them to its List of World Heritage in Danger. For many, this year’s restoration effort symbolizes both survival and renewal.
“It’s a cultural and social celebration,” said Issaka Nazoum, president of the Timbuktu Regional Council. “Everyone participates — women, youth, elders — it’s also a way to teach the next generation.”
The replastering serves as both a spiritual act and a living lesson in resilience. As Timbuktu’s people rebuild layer by layer, they continue to preserve a heritage that has endured through centuries of faith, conflict and change.
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