Djenné is a small town in central Mali, best known for its ancient mud-brick mosque, the largest in Africa. The town is also a center of traditional Islamic scholarship and hosts an annual festival of Islamic arts. Djenné's origins are uncertain, but the town is thought to have been founded in the 8th century by the Soninke people. It flourished as a center of trans-Saharan trade and was ruled by a succession of Muslim empires. The town declined in the 16th century, but was revived in the early 20th century by French administrators.
The Djenné mosque is a large, two-story building, built of sun-dried mud bricks. The mosque is rectangular in shape, with a flat roof and a portico on each side. The walls are decorated with elaborate carvings of animals and geometric designs. The mosque is said to be the largest mud-brick building in the world.
Djenn
