The Mosque of Djenné

The Great Mosque of Djenné located in the town of Djenné, #Mali, on the floodplain of the Bani River dates from 1907.

The building is considered one of the greatest achievements of the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style.

The first mosque on the site was built around the 13th century as the center of the Djenné community, it is one of Africa's most famous monuments.

The Great Temple of Djenné was originally built for the worship of the imperial god Wagadu called Bida, a serpentine deity equivalent to Damballah Wedo in #Vodun, Osumare in #Yoruba and Wadjet in #Kemet.

Since the building is widely open to the elements, it cracks and erodes from rain, humidity and temperature changes. As a result, local mud masons are regularly required to repair the structure to prevent it from falling apart . It is the largest mud brick building in the world and is considered one of the finest examples of the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style.

The mosque is one of the most famous architectural monuments in #Africa which, along with the “old towns of #Djenné”, was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.