"One of the oldest towns in West Africa, Djenné was founded in the 9th century, and, like Timbuktu, had had its heyday during the 14th and 15th centuries at the height of the trans Saharan trade. To look at this town, of about 8,000 population today, I got the feeling that apart from the odd power cable and motor vehicle, little seemed to have changed since those days. The place was a pure delight. Again, I was approached by the guides, but this time I was determined I was going to enjoy this fascinating place, so, as one of the guides seemed a lot more pleasant and knowledgeable than the others I had met, I decided to give him a try.
 
Built in 1905 to replace an earlier mosque destroyed by religious strife, this elegant building is now considered to be the finest example of Mali mud architecture in the country. When I arrived groups of children were marching back and forth to the river to collect bowls of wet mud, which men on ladders were then plastering onto the walls. It all seemed  a very joyful affair with some of the children also banging drums and letting off fire crackers. I was told by my guide this event took place each year to protect the building from being washed away when the rains came in June." - MH