Old Towns of Djenné

• No management and conservation plan
• Pressure from urban development
• Deterioration of dwellings
• Waste disposal problems
• Encroachment of the archaeological sites
• Instable security situation

• Serious deterioration of materials in the historic town and continued decay at the archaeological sites
• Inappropriate interventions
• Erosion of the architectural coherence of the town
• Lack of enforcement and implementation of regulatory and planning tools

In progress

Adopted, see page  https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6678   

In progress

Total amount granted: USD 110,000 (Italian Funds-in-Trust); USD 23,100 (Croisi Europe); USD 86,900 (European Commission); USD 83,147. (Netherlands Funds-in-Trust); USD 71,090 (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation); 75,000 Euros (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation);

On 28 January 2020, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report on the property, available at https://whc.unesco.org/, followed by additional information on 26 February 2020, providing the following information:

• Awareness-raising of the population continues through radio broadcasts and meetings, clarifying the role of each actor and correcting the false impression that funding for conservation measures rests with UNESCO. This has encouraged an increase of rough-rendering activities of the houses, organized by the owners themselves;
• Following the installation of solar electrification in the Djenné Grand Mosque, financed by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), a study on collateral effects of the increase in the numbers of worshippers is foreseen. The construction of two new mosques in the new districts of Dontémé and Tolober, will make it possible to accommodate some of the faithful living outside the old fabric of the town;
• A concern is the maintenance of houses in the old urban fabric, some of which are collapsing, suffering in particular from disagreements between heirs and members of the owner families;
• In addition, the use of cement is becoming fashionable to repair cracks or to rough-render the side exposed to rain. An awareness-raising effort was launched on the incoherence between the use of earth and cement;
• The inventory of abandoned and dilapidated houses continues with a district-by-district survey, mobilizing, in particular, the unemployed youth of each district;
• A maintenance manual for houses, aimed at the partners and owners, will be prepared, taking into consideration technical and financial aspects;
• The lack of security continues to encourage illegal excavating and prevents reinforcement of surveillance of the sites. However, the sale of archaeological objects is almost inexistent due to the absence of tourists, discouraging many looters. More legal measures against looting and the installation of fencing preventing access by animals and people, are in preparation;
• Updating of the mapping will shortly be completed;
• Modifications and earthen brick covering of the buildings are on the increase and solid buildings are built over the old fabric. In one case, legal proceedings were instigated against the owners by a bailiff:
• Various problems previously identified, such as lime decorations on houses by young people, publicity on walls, or the presence of sheet or tin sheds remain unresolved. Following consultations with the different actors concerned, solutions are envisaged, such as the creation of kiosks in recyclable material and the manufacture of advertising tarpaulins;
• Information provided in the state of conservation report on Askia Tomb (Mali): Steps have been undertaken with the International Blue Shield Committee for the implementation of a National Blue Shield Committee in Mali to strengthen the management capacities of cultural heritage and the protection of all the cultural properties in Mali.

The report submitted by the State Party demonstrates the evident strong mobilization of the Cultural Mission to raise local community awareness of conservation and management aspects of the site, notably the role of the different actors, including UNESCO, where misunderstanding caused some negligence in the maintenance of the houses. These efforts, carried out without sufficient financial means and in the context of adversity, causing concern due to continuing insecurity, are commendable.

It is crucial to pursue this awareness-raising work that is proving essential to respond to the current challenges that comprise specific concerns, in particular the maintenance of banco houses by the owner families. In the face of misunderstandings between family members regarding respective responsibilities impeding this maintenance, it is important to encourage the families concerned to find a common ground by making them aware of the significant heritage conservation issues at stake, without interference in private affairs by the Cultural Mission.

Moreover, the use of cement, the modifications and earthen brick coverings or the construction of solid buildings are also noted with concern. The application of heritage standards protecting the integrity and authenticity of the property is therefore urgent, and the State Party should be encouraged to strengthen communication regarding heritage standards to be respected, especially by accelerating the preparation of a maintenance manual for the houses and to submit the draft publication to the World Heritage Centre for revision by the Advisory Bodies. The detailed inventory of the Old Town as a basis for monitoring and identifying urgent actions is indispensable.

The Spanish Agency for Cooperation is to be commended for providing funding enabling the electrification of the Djenné Grand Mosque, and for granting additional funds in 2021 to pursue the inventory work, conservation work on the Grand Mosque and rehabilitation of the Moroccan Palace. Also, it is appropriate to commend a new contribution from the European Union for the “Safeguarding Project for the Enhancement of Cultural Heritage of Mali 2019-2020”, with the objective of rehabilitating several monumental houses.

Furthermore, in this respect, the World Heritage Centre has developed, and committed funding, to a remote support programme for the preparation of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR). The programme is foreseen to begin during 2020 with the aim of submitting the DSOCR for approval by the Committee at its 45^th session in 2021.

Special recognition goes to the emphasis on the mobilisation of the unemployed youth for the inventory work and for the awareness-raising efforts to halt the lime decorations on the banco houses.

Unfortunately, there remains concern linked to illegal excavations, although often superficial, at the four archaeological sites at Djenné, this, also due to the fact that the surveillance has insufficient means available. Although it is reassuring that the absence of tourists discourages illegal excavations, thus reducing the traffic of illegal objects, additional and strengthened measures must be taken for long-lasting security of the sites.

Taking into consideration the continued lack of security, despite progress achieved, it is recommended that the World Heritage Committee maintain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.