The Great Mosque of Mopti: a jewel of Sahelian architecture maintained each year by its inhabitants

In Mopti, Mali, the Great Mosque, also called Komoguel Mosque, stands majestically at 15 meters high, wonderfully illustrating the mud brick architecture of the Sahel and the Niger Valley. Built in the 1930s by the French administrator M. Cocheteaux, it was inspired by the famous Great Mosque of Djenné, located 80 kilometers away.

Every year, a maintenance ritual brings residents together to apply a new layer of earth and rice straw to the walls of the mosque, in order to preserve this unique monument. This community project attracts both locals and volunteers from remote regions. Inscribed since 2009 on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, the mosque is a strong symbol of the cultural heritage and solidarity of the inhabitants of Mopti.

This annual ritual of renovation embodies a powerful connection between the community and its heritage, illustrating how traditional architecture can be preserved through collective efforts. The mosque, in addition to being a place of worship, symbolizes the resilience and cultural richness of Mopti, testifying to the importance of this heritage for future generations.