Critical Changes in Djenné’s Local Community after Its Nomination as a World Heritage Site : Issues of Preservation and Cultural Conservation

Oussouby Sacko 42 center-of arts, science, and religion-from the 13th century.Djenn is the site of earthen-brick (adobe) architecture and a large Sudanese-style mosque built in 1220 CE and rebuilt in 1907 (Gardi et al. 1995).According to oral tradition, Djenn used to have eleven mosques in different localities, but the Great Mosque was proposed to unify the diverse population and to develop the market.Djenn's Outstanding Universal Value was so well recognized that it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List along with the archeological site of Djenn-Jeno and the surrounding old towns of Hambarketolo, Tonomba, Kaniana in 1988 (UNESCO n.d.).Since its inclusion as a World Heritage site, Djenn was considered as heritage in danger and many restoration projects have been conducted by cultural agencies and non-profit organizations, while some have been supported by foreign government aid.Here, I discuss the restoration of Djenn's Great Mosque, a project that began in 2008, which has generated much debate concerning cultural conservation and building preservation (Photo 1).