Sidi Yahya Mosque, 15th-century mosque and madrasa in Timbuktu, Mali.
Sidi Yahya Mosque is a 15th-century house of worship in Timbuktu, constructed from mud bricks with characteristic corbelled arches and ornate wooden doors bearing Moroccan influence. The structure demonstrates Sudan-Sahelian architectural features and includes teaching spaces as well as hidden burial chambers.
Construction began in 1400 under Sheikh el-Mokhtar Hamalla and took four decades to complete. After its finished, Sidi Yahya al-Tadelsi was appointed as its first imam, giving the building its enduring name.
The mosque serves as a gathering place where the local community comes together for prayer and learning, reflecting its role in the city's intellectual life. Visitors can sense how the building remains central to religious practice and collective memory.
The mud structure requires regular maintenance by the local community, especially after heavy rains and during hot seasons. Visitors should expect ongoing repairs to protect the building from sand erosion and environmental wear.
The building conceals an underground burial chamber where the remains of several imams rest, including founder Sidi Yahya al-Tadelsi. This hidden space links the place of worship to the memory of its religious leaders.
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