The border with Niger is just south of the village of Labbézanga, a distance of 204 km (127 mi). The Empire collapsed after the Moroccan invasion in 1591 and the invaders chose to make Timbuktu their capital. [19] Their accounts for the earlier periods are almost certainly based on oral tradition and for events before the second half of the 15th century they are likely to be less reliable. Bantu migrations. The seventh Festival des arts et cultures songhay was celebrated in February 2007 at Gao, reflecting the city's importance as a Songhay cultural capital.[53]. The spectacular Grand Mosque of Djenne in Mali is the biggest man-made clay structure in the world. After staying a month in the town, Ibn Battuta left with a caravan for Takedda and from there headed north back across the Sahara to an oasis in Tuat with a large caravan that included 600 slave girls. [48], After the 2012 rebellion forced the Malian Army out of Gao and the state of Azawad was proclaimed, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad took control of the governor's building, flying the flag of Azawad over it and rechristening it the Palace of Azawad.[49]. The imported pottery and glass recovered from Gao-Saney suggest that the site was occupied between the 8th and 13th centuries. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone! Gao's climate is hot and dry, with the only rainfall occurring between June and September. This layout pays homage to the Saharan tradition of prominent ancestral tumuli or tomb mounds erected over graves that date to before 1,000 BC. 14th-century mosque. It is located to the northwest of the Drum Tower. University Press, 2005); Philip D. Curtin, African History: from [30] A large sand dune, La Dune Rose, lies on the west bank opposite Gao, but at Koima, on the edge of the dune at a site 4 km north of Gao, surface deposits indicate a pre 9th century settlement. In the 9th century external Arabic writers described Gao as an important regional power,[3] and by the end of the 10th century, the local ruler was said to be a Muslim. a series of movements between approximately 2000 BCE and 500 CE during which large numbers of Bantu-speaking peoples left their homeland in the Niger River Valley and resettled in central, eastern, and southern Africa. It was built in 1495 and symbolizesthe important phase of Western African History when Gao became the capitol of a Songhai Empire and Islam was adopted as the official religion in the 15th and 16th centuries. It is found on the list of National Cultural Heritage Conservation Units. By conquering nomadic peoples, Sunni Ali secured tight control over the trade routes to the north and south. High quality Gao inspired clocks by independent artists and designers from around the world. 2. The site covers 4.25 ha. [14] There is a large year-to-year variation in the extent of the flooding. The incident was the deadliest terrorist attack in Malian history. Scroll down to the third paragraph and continue to the end of the page. [28] Both al-Muhallabi (see quote above) and al-Bakri[29] situate Gao on the west (or right bank) of the Niger. … 1 Grand Mosquée. [15] When in flood the river is 4 km wide at Gao but during the dry season a number of islands appear in the river. Attractions in Gao include the original fourteenth century Gao Mosque, the Askia Tomb (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) built in 1495 and incorporating another mosque, a museum devoted to the Sahel, markets including a night market, and La Dune Rose, a sand dune named after its appearance at dawn and nightfall. The 17th century Tarikh al-fattash also states that in the 10th century Gao was situated on the Gourma side (i.e. The Tomb of Askia is the central commanding feature of the Great Mosque of Gao. The pyramidal tomb is constructed of mud bricks faced with mud plaster. The Great Mosque at Djenne Its impact today as a modelThe G-eat Mosque at Djenne is without a doubt the model that inspired the architecture oj the award-winning mosque of Niono, Mali. Xian Great Mosque, is one of the four biggest mosques in China. Great Mosque Of Djenne Djenne. Tellem or Dogon Headrest from Mali. Our knowledge of the early history of the town relies on the writings of Arabic geographers livin… Its source lies in the Fouta Djallon highlands of Guinea and its course plunges suicidally towards the Sahara through Mali until it again takes a southward course near Gao. His successor, Sunni Ali Ber (1464–1492), greatly expanded the territory under Songhai control and established the Songhai Empire. In the 14th century Gao was conquered by the king of Melle, and its great mosque was built (c. 1325) by the Melle sovereign Kunkur Musa on his return from a pilgrimage to Mecca. He made Gao his capital. The other is the historic town of Timbuktu with its three great mosques and centuries of history. Women wear matching head covers. Both empires had the town of Gao as their capital. [1] For administrative purposes, the commune is divided into nine quartiers: Gadeye, Farandjiré, Aljanabanbia, Djoulabougou, Saneye, Sosso Koïra, Boulgoundjé, Château, and Djidara. The Djenne Mosque was constructed using clay mortar and sun-baked clay bricks. The site of the ancient town was overgrown with Capparis decidua bushes. The mosque is located south of the more famous Sankoré Mosque. You can literally stand between the two hemispheres. Fishing boats on Niger River, Gao, Mali, 1976. However, the MNLA stated that it continued to maintain forces and control some rural areas in the region. After an extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, the Mali emperor Mansa Mūsā built the Great Mosque (Djinguereber) and a royal residence, the Madugu (the former has since been rebuilt many times, and of the latter no trace remains).