UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mali
Mali has 2 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List (1 cultural and 1 mixed), the first inscribed in 1989 (Bandiagara Escarpment). 1 site is on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The map below plots every one of them alongside the rest of the List, and each site is written up in full further down the page.
- World Heritage Sites
- 2
- Cultural
- 1
- Natural and Mixed
- 1
- First Inscribed
- 1989
Map of World Heritage Sites in Mali
CulturalNaturalMixedIn DangerLarge dots are in Mali. Click a dot to read about the site.
Bandiagara Escarpment
Mali · 14.4167° N, 3.3167° W · 3,274 km² · 93 km from Mopti
The Bandiagara Escarpment (Arabic: منحدرات باندياغارا الصخرية, French: falaise de Bandiagara) is a sandstone cliff in the Dogon country of Mali. It rises about 500 m (1,600 ft) above the lower sandy flats to the south, and has a length of approximately 150 km (90 mi).
The area of the escarpment is inhabited today by the Dogon people. Before the Dogon, the escarpment was inhabited by the Tellem and Toloy peoples. Many structures remain from the Tellem. The Bandiagara Escarpment was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1989.
The Cliffs of Bandiagara are a sandstone chain ranging from south to northeast over 200 km (120 mi) and extending to the Grandamia massif. The end of the massif is marked by the Hombori Tondo, Mali's highest peak at 1,155 m (3,789 ft). Because of its archaeological, ethnological and geological characteristics, the entire site is a point of interest.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Bandiagara Escarpment (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Bandiagara Escarpment Is Listed
- (v)
- An outstanding example of traditional human settlement or land use.
- (vii)
- Superlative natural phenomena or exceptional natural beauty.
More about Bandiagara Escarpment
UNESCO's Description
The Bandiagara site is an outstanding landscape of cliffs and sandy plateaux with some beautiful architecture (houses, granaries, altars, sanctuaries and Togu Na , or communal meeting-places). Several age-old social traditions live on in the region (masks, feasts, rituals, and ceremonies involving ancestor worship). The geological, archaeological and ethnological interest, together with the landscape, make the Bandiagara plateau one of West Africa's most impressive sites.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
History
The cave-dwelling Tellem, an ethnic group later pushed out by the arrival of the Dogons, used to live in the slopes of the cliff. The Tellem legacy is evident in the caves they carved into the cliffs so that they could bury their dead high up, far from the frequent flash floods of the area.
Dozens of villages are located along the cliff, such as Kani Bonzon. It was near this village that the Dogons arrived in the 14th century, and from there they spread over the plateau, the escarpment and the plains of the Seno-Gondo.
According to local oral history, the Dogon were relatively undisturbed by French colonial powers due to natural tunnels weaving through the Bandiagara Escarpment. Only the Dogon knew of the tunnels, and were able to use them to ambush and repel aggressors.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Bandiagara Escarpment (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Tomb of Askia
Mali · 16.2897° N, 0.0444° W · 3 km from Gao
The Tomb of Askia, in Gao, Mali, is believed to be the burial place of Askia Muhammad I, one of the Songhai Empire's most prolific emperors. It was built at the end of the fifteenth century and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although Askia Mohammed I is the only individual who was buried within the tomb, several other Askias are buried in the courtyard.
UNESCO describes the tomb as a fine example of the monumental mud-building traditions of the West African Sahel. The complex includes the pyramidal tomb, two mosques, a cemetery and an assembly ground. At 17 metres (56 ft) in height, it is the largest pre-colonial architectural monument in Gao. It is a notable example of the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style that later spread throughout the region.
The tomb remains in use as place of worship and publicly owned cultural centre for the city of Gao. The tomb complex and a buffer area around it are protected by both national and local laws.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Tomb of Askia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Tomb of Askia Is Listed
- (ii)
- An important interchange of human values.
- (iii)
- A unique testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation.
- (iv)
- An outstanding example of a type of building or landscape.
More about Tomb of Askia
UNESCO's Description
The dramatic 17-m pyramidal structure of the Tomb of Askia was built by Askia Mohamed, the Emperor of Songhai, in 1495 in his capital Gao. It bears testimony to the power and riches of the empire that flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries through its control of the trans-Saharan trade, notably in salt and gold. It is also a fine example of the monumental mud-building traditions of the West African Sahel. The complex, including the pyramidal tomb, two flat-roofed mosque buildings, the mosque cemetery and the open-air assembly ground, was built when Gao became the capital of the Songhai Empire and after Askia Mohamed had returned from Mecca and made Islam the official religion of the empire.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
History
Askia Mohammed I was the first Askia emperor and expanded the Songhai Empire. As a devoted Muslim, he felt obligated to make his pilgrimage to Mecca, which he returned from in 1497/8. He brought back with him the materials to make his tomb; all of the mud and wood came from Mecca. The caravan is said to have consisted of "thousands of camels". It was structured as a house, with several rooms and passageways and was sealed when Askia Mohammed died.
Relatively recent modifications to the site have included the expansion of the mosque buildings in the 1960s and mid-1970s, and the 1999 construction of a wall around the site. Electricity was added in the early 2000s, allowing for ceiling fans, lights and a loudspeaker mounted on top.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Tomb of Askia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Key Facts
| Established | 1495 |
|---|---|
| Area | 0 km² |
| Architectural style | Sudano-Sahelian architecture |
Facts from Wikidata Q503823 (CC0).
World Heritage in Mali: Quick Answers
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Mali?
- Mali has 2 World Heritage Sites: 1 cultural and 1 mixed.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Mali?
- Bandiagara Escarpment, inscribed in 1989. The most recent is Tomb of Askia, inscribed in 2004.
- What are the natural World Heritage Sites in Mali?
- Bandiagara Escarpment (mixed).
- Are any World Heritage Sites in Mali in danger?
- Yes: Tomb of Askia is on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.