To: [email protected]
From:
Subject:
Date:
To:
Caravan To Class [email protected]
One Bad Ass Librarian of Timbuktu
February 26, 2017 at 11:54 AM
[email protected]
Caravan To Class
Caravan To Class
February 26, 2017
February 26, 2017
Caravan To Class
February 26, 2017
February 26, 2017
Dear Barry,
Dear friends,
Dear
Barry,
On
my 3rd
trip to Timbuktu in 2011, I was fortunate to be able to tour the Mamma
Dear Barry,
On my 3rd trip to Timbuktu in 2011, I was fortunate to be able to tour the Mamma
Haidara Library of Manuscripts, the Haidara family collection of ancient Timbuktu
Haidara Library
Manuscripts,
the
family
ancient Timbuktu
manuscripts.
I startedof
Caravan
to Class from
my Haidara
2010 trip where
the collection
place, cultureof
and
people
inspired meItostarted
get involved
in literacy
inClass
Timbuktu.
However,
the heritage
of the the place, culture
manuscripts.
Caravan
to
from
my
2010
trip
where
On highlighted
my 3rd trip
tomanuscripts
Timbuktugave
in 2011,
I was fortunate
torenaissance
be able to
area,
by the
added important
to the needed
of tour the Mamma
people
inspired
me
to
get
involved
in
literacy
in
Timbuktu.
However,
theTimbuktu
heritage of
this
historically
significantly
place.
Haidara Library of Manuscripts, the Haidara family collection of ancient
and
the
area,
highlighted
by theCaravan
manuscripts
gave
added
important
to thethe
needed
manuscripts.
I started
to Class
from
my 2010
trip where
place,renaissance
culture andof
this
historically
significantly
place.
people inspired me to get involved in literacy in Timbuktu. However, the heritage of the
area, highlighted by the manuscripts gave added important to the needed renaissance of
this historically significantly place.
This past week, February 20, 2017, was a special treat, as my son Benjamin and I met
up with Dr. Abdel Kader Haidara at his facility, where he is processing a few hundred
thousand manuscripts. His team of roughly 100 staff are cleaning, cataloguing, and
boxing one of history's most important troves of ancient manuscripts.
up with Dr. Abdel Kader Haidara at his facility, where he is processing a few hundred
thousand manuscripts. His team of roughly 100 staff are cleaning, cataloguing, and
boxing one of history's most important troves of ancient manuscripts.
This
Thispast
pastweek,
week,February
February20,
20, 2017,
2017,was
wasa aspecial
specialtreat
trea
ry 20,
2017,
apast
special
treat,
as my
son
Benjamin
I met
up
with
Kader
Haidara
up
withDr.
Dr.Abdel
Abdel
Kader
Haidara
hisfacility,
facility,where
wherehe
h
20,
2017,
waswas
This
a special
week,
treat,
February
as my
son
20,
Benjamin
2017,
was
andand
aI special
met
treat,
as
my
son
Benjamin
andatat
I his
met
Haidara
at his
where
heKader
is processing
a few
hundredwhere
thousand
thousand
manuscripts.
Histeam
teamofofroughly
roughly100
100staff
staffara
aidara
at his
facility,
upfacility,
withwhere
Dr.
Abdel
he is
processing
Haidara
a few
at
his
hundred
facility,
he ismanuscripts.
processing
a His
few
hundred
His
team
of roughly
staff
cleaning,
cataloguing,
one
ofofhistory's
most
troves
boxing
one
history's
mostimportant
important
trovesofofancien
ancie
team
of roughly
thousand
100100
staff
manuscripts.
areare
cleaning,
His cataloguing,
team
of roughly
andand
100 boxing
staff
are
cleaning,
cataloguing,
and
most
important
troves
of of
ancient
manuscripts.
st
important
troves
boxing
ofone
ancient
history's
manuscripts.
most important troves of ancient manuscripts.
iver was
Mygiven
driver
directions
was given
to directions
a nearby school,
to a nearby
where
school,
one ofwhere
the guards
one ofled
theusguard
My driver was given directions to a nearby school, where one of the guards led us
gh a labyrinth
through
alabyrinth
streets
labyrinth
of
thestreets
unmarked
to the
location
unmarked
where
Dr. Haidara's
where Dr.
important
Haidara'
throughof
a
ofto
streets
to
the unmarked
location
where
Dr.location
Haidara's
important
workis
is When
being done.
When
the on
workthe
on the
manuscripts
is finished,
they arethey
stored
in sixstored
is beingwork
done.
being
the
done.
work
When
manuscripts
work
on the
manuscripts
is finished,
is finished,
are
theyinar
s
different secret storage facilities around Bamako.
ent secret
different
storage
secret
facilities
storage
around
facilities
Bamako.
around Bamako.
My
Mydriver
driverwas
wasgiven
givendirections
directionstotoa anearby
nearbyschool,
school,wher
whe
ections
a nearby
school,
where
of the
guards
through
the
through
alabyrinth
labyrinth
ofstreets
streets
theunmarked
unmarkedlocation
location
ions
to atonearby
My school,
driver
was
where
given
oneone
directions
of the
guards
to
a nearby
led led
us us
school,
whereaone
of the of
guards
ledtoto
us
treets
to the
unmarked
location
where
Dr.
Haidara's
important
work
When
work
workisisbeing
beingdone.
done.
Whenthe
the
workon
onthe
themanuscripts
manuscript
ets
to the
unmarked
throughlocation
a labyrinth
where
of Dr.
streets
Haidara's
to theimportant
unmarked
location
where
Dr.
Haidara's
important
en
the
work
on
the
manuscripts
is
finished,
they
are
stored
in
six
around
different
secretstorage
storage
facilities
around
Bamako.
the work on the
work
manuscripts
is being done.
is finished,
When the
they
work
are on
stored
the manuscripts
in sixdifferent
issecret
finished,
they facilities
are
stored
in sixBamako.
facilities
around
Bamako.
cilities
around
different
Bamako.
secret storage facilities around Bamako.
These manuscripts, some from as early as the 11th century, are not only important for
the cultural heritage of Timbuktu and the entire country of Mali, but for all of Africa and
the entire Islamic world. They tell of a golden age of Timbuktu, when the area was at the
forefront of advancement in areas like science, astronomy, ethics, law - even women's
sexuality and conflict resolution. With so much violence in the Middle East and North
Africa, and culture wars within and among religions, the Sufi Islam practiced in Timbuktu,
and much of Mali, can provide an important bridge to potentially resolve so many existing
conflicts. The manuscripts are a written gateway to explore the strength and wisdom of
an important region of Africa in the 12th - 16th These
Thesemanuscripts,
manuscripts,some
somefrom
fromasasearly
earlyasasthe
the11th
11thcen
ce
centuries.
While
the some
writing
of
all
of
the
manuscripts
is
in Arabic,
many
are
transliterated
me
from
as early
as the
11th
century,
not
only
important
for
the
heritage
ofofTimbuktu
and
thecultural
cultural
heritage
Timbuktu
and
theentire
entirecountry
countr
These
manuscripts,
from
as
early
as
the
century,
are
not
only
important
forthe
from
as early
as
the
11th
century,
areare
not
only
important
for 11th
from
other
Northern
languages,
and
Tamashek.
Timbuktu
the
entire
country
ofMali
but
allincluding
of Africa
and
the
world.
They
tell
a agolden
theentire
entire
Islamic
world.
They
tellofof
goldenage
ageofofTim
T
the
cultural
heritage
ofMali,
Timbuktu
the
entire
country
ofIslamic
Mali,
but
for all
of Africa
and
mbuktu
andand
the
entire
country
of Mali,
but
for for
alland
of
Africa
andSonghai
manuscripts,
These manuscripts,
some from assome
earlyfrom
as the
as 11th
early century,
as the 11th
are century,
not only are
important
not only
fori
ultural heritage
the cultural
of Timbuktu
heritage of
and
Timbuktu
the entire
and
country
the entire
of Mali,
country
but for
of Mali,
all of but
Africa
forand
all
ntire Islamic
the entire
world.
Islamic
They tell
world.
of aThey
golden
tellage
of aofgolden
Timbuktu,
age of
when
Timbuktu,
the area
when
wasthe
at ta
ont of advancement
forefront of advancement
in areas like in
science,
areas like
astronomy,
science,ethics,
astronomy,
law - ethics,
even women's
law - ev
lity andsexuality
conflict resolution.
and conflictWith
resolution.
so muchWith
violence
so much
in the
violence
MiddleinEast
the and
Middle
North
East
, and culture
Africa,wars
and culture
within and
warsamong
withinreligions,
and among
thereligions,
Sufi Islam
the
practiced
Sufi Islam
in Timbuk
practic
much of and
Mali,much
can provide
of Mali, an
canimportant
provide an
bridge
important
to potentially
bridge toresolve
potentially
so many
resolve
exist
so
cts. Theconflicts.
manuscripts
The manuscripts
are a writtenare
gateway
a written
to explore
gateway
the
tostrength
explore the
andstrength
wisdom o
a
portantan
region
important
of Africa
region
in the
of Africa
12th - in
16th
the 12th - 16th
ries. While
centuries.
the writing
Whileofthe
all writing
of the manuscripts
of all of the manuscripts
is in Arabic, many
is in Arabic,
are transliterate
many are
other Northern
from other
MaliNorthern
languages,
Maliincluding
languages,
Songhai
including
and Songhai
Tamashek.
and Tamashek.
d.
They
a
golden
of Timbuktu,
when
was
atforefront
the
ofofadvancement
ininareas
science,
forefront
advancement
areas
like
science,astronom
astrono
the
entire
Islamic
world.when
They
tellthe
of area
a was
golden
age
of Timbuktu,
when the area
waslike
at
the
hey
tell tell
of aofgolden
ageage
of
Timbuktu,
the
area
at the
nt
in areas
science,
ethics,
law
- like
even
women's
sexuality
conflict
With
sexualityand
and
conflict
Withsosomuch
muchviolence
violenc
forefront
ofastronomy,
advancement
in
areas
science,
astronomy,
ethics,
lawresolution.
-resolution.
even women's
n areas
likelike
science,
astronomy,
ethics,
law
- even
women's
esolution.
With
so much
violence
in the
Middle
East
Northviolence
Africa,
culture
wars
within
and
Africa,and
and
culture
wars
within
andamong
amongreligions,
religions,the
th
and
conflict
resolution.
With
so
much
in
the
Middle
East
and North
ution. With
sosexuality
much
violence
in the
Middle
East
andand
North
sthin
within
among
religions,
Sufi
Islam
practiced
in Timbuktu,
and
ofofMali,
andmuch
much
Mali,can
canprovide
provide
animportant
importantbridge
bridgetotop
Africa,
and culture
wars
within
and among
religions,
the
Sufi
Islam
practiced
inan
Timbuktu,
andand
among
religions,
thethe
Sufi
Islam
practiced
in Timbuktu,
provide
an important
bridge
to potentially
resolve
so many
existing
conflicts.
The
gateway
conflicts.
Themanuscripts
manuscripts
area awritten
written
gatewaytotoexp
ex
and bridge
much
of
can provide
anso
important
bridge
to potentially
resolve soare
many
existing
vide an important
toMali,
potentially
resolve
many
existing
pts
a written
gateway
tomanuscripts
explore
strength
wisdom
of
region
ofofAfrica
ininthe
animportant
important
region
Africa
the12th
12th
16th
conflicts.
The
are
a written
gateway
to
explore
the
strength
and wisdom
of - -16th
areare
a written
gateway
to
explore
thethe
strength
andand
wisdom
of an
Africa
in the
12th
- 16th
centuries.While
Whilethe
thewriting
writingofofallallofofthe
themanuscripts
manuscriptsisis
an
important
region of Africa in the 12th - 16th centuries.
ca in the
12th
- 16th
iting
of
all
of
the
manuscripts
is
in
Arabic,
many
are
transliterated
from
other
Northern
Mali
languages,
including
fromis
other
Northern
Mali
languages,
includingSonghai
Songha
While
writing
of all
oftransliterated
the manuscripts
in Arabic,
many
are
transliterated
g of all of the centuries.
manuscripts
is inthe
Arabic,
many
are
ali
languages,
including
Songhai
Tamashek.
from
other
Northern
Mali
languages, including Songhai and Tamashek.
anguages,
including
Songhai
andand
Tamashek.
I recommend you read Joshua Hammer's incredible book, The Bad Ass Librarians of
Timbuktu, to learn the spectacular details of Dr. Haidara's first adventures to collect the
manuscripts from countless villages all over Northern Mali. It details his heroic work in
secretly getting tens of thousands of manuscripts out of Timbuktu to safety in Bamako,
the capital of Mali. As Dr. Haidar told me, "we are in the middle of a five year program to
safeguard and digitize more than 300,000 important treasures. When that is finished, we
must show the world what exactly is in these manuscripts. That is the ultimate goal."
In the end, the Jihadists did burn some 4,000 manuscripts, the ashes of which I saw
myself (at the Ammed Baba Institute, built by the South African government to house
the manuscripts) on my 2013 trip to Timbuktu, shortly after the city was liberated by the
French. However, not only did he and his team save over 90% of all the manuscripts, but
he has saved forever the heritage of his people.
I cannot get out of my mind what Dr. Haidara and his team have done to preserve such
an
important
cultural
againDr.
notHaidara
just forand
Timbuktu,
but
possibly
the entiresuch
I cannot
get out
of mylegacy,
mind what
his team
have
done for
to preserve
world.
an important cultural legacy, again not just for Timbuktu, but possibly for the entire
world.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Barry Hoffner
Founder
and Executive Director, Caravan to Class
Barry Hoffner
www.Caravantoclass.org
Founder and Executive Director, Caravan to Class
1-415-331-0567
www.Caravantoclass.org
1-415-331-0567
You have received this e-mail because you have either signed up for our updates or have donated to Caravan to Class in the past.
You have received this e-mail because you have either signed up for our updates or have donated to Caravan to Class in the past.