Djenne, Mali’s Adobe Architecutre is Mesmerizing

Located in the heart of West Africa is the town of Djenne, located in central Mali. While you’ve probably never heard of this place, the fact of the matter is that it’s one of Africa’s must-visit destinations.

So, why is Djenne so interesting?

Many consider Djenne to be the oldest still-inhabited city in the entire African continent. It’s been around since around the 3rd century BC. The town was established in the floodlands of the Niger and Bani Rivers, giving it the ability to sustain agriculture despite the dry climate.

Djenne is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and as a place of important value for the study of archeology due to its unique Sudanese Adobe architecture which characterizes nearly all of the town’s buildings.

The Djenne Mosque is the most important and well-known building in the town of 30,000, as it is an important gathering place for the town’s residents and a beautiful example of the city’s quintessential architecture.

Built with sun-dried mud bricks, the current mosque was built in 1907 and has survived for over a century.

The mosque isn’t the only building in Djenne that was built with this architectural technique, however. Nearly all of the homes and businesses of the city also feature this unique construction method.

Djenne is a must-see if you love architecture and want to check out an off-the-beaten path destination.