Rehabilitation and conservation Djenné Djenno a
nd Hambarketolo
In August and September 2010 severe flooding in the region of West Africa left hundreds and
thousands of people without food and shelter. Storms were of such intensity that many of the
communities saw their homes, livestock and food reserves wash away. In Mali more than 85.000
people were affected, as well as important archaeological heritage sites, such as Djenné Djenno a
nd Hambarketolo.
The World Heritage Sites of Djenné Djenno and Hambarketolo were severely affected by the f
looding, having destructive consequences for the archaeological remains they carry. The current
situation is forming a direct threat to the archaeological objects and constructions that can be
found here: a great number of fragile archaeological objects have been carried away by the
floodwater or are now exposed to animals and the elements.
The two heritage sites are important parts of the world?s cultural heritage, but they are of great si
gnificance to the local population as well. Both sites, that are attached to each other and were
built in the same era, bear exceptional witness to the pre-Islamic civilizations on the inland delta
of the Niger. The archaeological work shows the importance of the ancient city of Djenné in the p
eriod from the 8th until the 14th century and gives unique insights in urbanization, architecture
and socio-political structures of this specific African region. The Malian people are proud of their
history on which they base their future; Djenné Djenno and Hambarketolo contain the vestiges of t
heir ancestors and are therefore playing an important role in the local identity. These iconic sites
should be preserved to allow future generations the possibility to reconstruct their history and
form an identity.
Restoring this heritage enables the continuation of archaeological research, creates jobs for the
local population, encourages tourism in this area, and stimulates the development and
implementation of local knowledge and expertise. Restoration and conservation activities exists
of: filling the gullies with debris and termite mound clay; Construction of 200 cordons, made of
blocks of termite mound clay, along the height lines in order to control and slow down water
flows; the plantation of trees.
The Prince Claus Fund, given the local, national, and worldwide significance of Djenné Djenno a
nd Hambarketolo, supported the rehabilitation and conservation of the two sites. The local project
partner is la Mission Culturelle, directed by Yamoussa Fané.
Both sites are of local, national, and worldwide significance
Project proposal
Media:
Programme: CER
De missie van CER is het verlenen van 'eerste hulp' aan cultureel erfgoed dat is beschadigd of vernietigd door een ramp veroorzaakt door mens of natuur.
CER is in 2003 opgericht naar aanleiding van de vernielingen en plunderingen in het Nationaal Museum van Irak. CER is ervan overtuigd dat het redden van
cultuur hoop en troost aan getroffen gemeenschappen kan bieden en kan bijdragen aan het herstel van eigenwaarde, continuïteit en identiteit. CER ziet c
ulturele noodhulp als een integraal onderdeel van humanitaire noodhulpverlening.
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