Djinguereber Mosque, Saharan mosque in Timbuktu, Mali.
Djinguereber Mosque is a prayer house built from earthen bricks in Timbuktu with distinctive pyramid-shaped minarets and interior columns arranged in rows. The structure displays traditional Sudano-Sahelian building methods with thick mud walls designed to hold large gatherings.
The building was constructed in 1327 by architect Abu Ishap Es-Saheli under Emperor Mansa Musa and became central to the University of Timbuktu. It shaped religious and intellectual life in the region for centuries afterward.
The mosque functions as a meeting place where scholars and community members gather to study Islamic texts and maintain educational practices passed down through generations.
The earthen structure requires regular community maintenance, with new layers of mud applied annually to protect against sand erosion and rainfall damage. Visitors should expect that restoration work may be visible during their visit.
The building incorporates architectural elements from different regions, featuring pyramid-shaped minarets with projecting wooden beams that serve as permanent structural supports. These wooden elements are integral to the original design rather than temporary additions.
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