Located in the African Republic of Mali, the Great Mosque of Djenne is the largest mud-structure in the world. It was said to have first been constructed in the 13th Century, but was destroyed and rebuilt several times – so much so that the mosque you see today is one that was finally completed in 1906, almost 7 years later.
The Great Mosque of Djenne is completely constructed from mud – sun-baked mud bricks, sand and earth based mortar, and mud plaster. Structures made from mud can last for many centuries if regularly maintained. For this reason, the entire community of Djenne gathers for a festival that takes place annually to make repairs to the Mosque. The festival, Crepissage de la Grand Mosquée, includes music and food, but the main purpose is to repair any cracks or eroded areas of the structure usually brought about by rain or changes in temperature and humidity.
The qibla of the Great Mosque faces east towards Makkah and overlooks the city marketplace. Half of the mosque is covered by a roof and the other half is an open air prayer hall. The roof of the mosque is supported by ninety wooden pillars that span the interior prayer hall. Jutting out from the main wall are three large minarets. These are not your regular minarets, however. The cone-shaped spire at the top of each minaret is topped with ostrich eggs for added beauty (see picture below).
The citizens of Djenne aim for this beautiful and unique structure to be kept as traditional as possible, resisting modernization. Consequently, the only added modern aspect since its creation is a loudspeaker system, for the adhaan to be heard from a distance. While there are mosques that are far older than this still standing today, the Great Mosque of Dijenne in Mali has a uniqueness that makes it one of the architectural wonders of the world.
