Djenné

]] Djenné (also Dienné or Jenne) is a city on the Bani River in southern Mali with a population of about 12,000 (in 1987). It is famous for its mud brick architecture, most notably the Great Mosque, rebuilt in 1907. In the past, Djenn was a centre of trade and learning, and has been conquered a number of times since its founding in the thirteenth century. Its historic city center was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.

History

]] Djenné was founded in the 13th century, by the Nono, and was a dependancy of the Mali Empire, rivalling Timbuktu in its trade of gold, slaves and salt. It was conquered in in the 15th century by Sonni 'Ali. By the 1600s, Djenné had become a thriving centre of trade and learning. It was part of the Bambara kingdom from 1670, and the city was captured by the Fulani ruler of Macina, Shehu Ahmadu Lobbo in 1818, in 1861 by al-Hajj 'Umar (the Tukolor Emperor), and by the French in 1893. Today, Djenné is an agricultural trade centre for fish, coffee and kola.

Nearby are the historic ruins of Jenné-Jeno, which dates back to 250 BC.