IMAGES OF MALI ...THE MUD MOSQUES OF MALI

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THE MUD MOSQUES OF MALI

The Mud Mosque at Djenne captured my imagination from the pictures in books from my childhood...an exotic image that remained with me...but as I have now been there...the images are real and indelibly printed in my psyche...

I photograhed as many Mud Mosques as I could as I danced through Mali.

Mali is a predominately Muslim nation, so each village has a mosque. There is the occasional Christian mud church.

However, as it does not erode in rain, concrete is being used in the construction of some village mosques, sometimes painted pink or light blue.

There is pressure to replace mud with concrete...but there is opposition as mud artisans are an ancient traditional craft...and every village can make mud bricks if there is a pool of water nearby...and the expense is only labour time...

Here are a collection of mud mosques as we travelled north from Bamako to Segou, Mopti, Dogon Country on our trek through the Bandiagara escarpment, mosques as seen from a pinasse as we cruise up the Niger to Timbuktu...and Timbuktu "La Mysterieuse" as well.

Enjoy & Regards,

Dancing Dave (who danced through Mali from mud mosque to mud mosque from Bamako to Timbuktu) !!!

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Photos

OLD SEGOU
This old mosque is waterfront...overlooking a sky blue lake...

ON THE ROAD NORTH OF BAMAKO
...corrugated iron doors instead of wood...what were they thinking?

A VILLAGE MOSQUE
On the way to Denne...this inland delta area has many mosques indicating a magnificent culture...unfortunately many are obscured from view by village walls

SEGOU
Down the river after an idyllic Christmas Day cruise...voila

WELCOME TO YOUR DAWN TOUR
Djenne Mosque

DJENNE
Awaiting the invention of the clothes line?

ONTO THE ROOF
Exposing the ventilation system

INSIDE...
Narrow halls & walls of timber lined with mud which support the roof and structure

DJENNE COUNTY
About the first village after crossing the river from Djenne, the 4 Belgians gave me a business card..."We saw your good deeds at the river crossing...contact us...we videoed the lot"

DOGON VILLAGE
Village on the way from Teli to Ennde

DOGON MUD MOSQUE
On the Falaise

Comments

[Roslyn Amiss]

Congratulations
What a great collection of mosque photos - you are obviously heaps ahead of us sorting photos.

[denise hooper]

THE MUD MOSQUES OF MALI
Thank you Dancing Dave for these sensational photos - I am transported each time I see them...

[GRACIELA]

Dance...
I would also like to dance .....

[Linda Perry]

SAINT PETERSBURG - RUSSIA
Your photos make me feel like a baby traveler. Truly amazing mud mosques...who would think?? I am an underwater photographer. Just went on a safari in south Africa and I have a lot to learn about land photos.

[Dancing Dave]

The Mud Mosques of Mali
Thanks Linda. Your pics as an underwater photographer of African animals on safari I bet are great!!!