Old Towns of Djenné

In 1998, the Committee identified the following threats, amongst others: dilapidation of dwellings, sanitation problems, socio-cultural changes.

From 17 to 18 February 2005, the World Heritage Centre sent a mission to Djenné to assess the conservation measures undertaken by the State Party since 1998.  The mission reported on the progress made in the implementation of the Programme for the rehabilitation of mud brick architecture of the Town.  This programme was launched in 1996, in the framework of the bilateral cooperation between the State Party and The Netherlands.  The main objectives of the programme were to restore the deteriorated banco (mud brick) houses, set up an economic system that would ensure their annual maintenance, and resolve the sanitation problems.  The first phase of this programme was completed in January 2003.  The mission observed that activities funded by The Netherlands produced very positive results with a visual impact on the major conservation problems faced by the Town, making it one of the rare World Heritage towns today with an urban and architectural unity entirely of mud brick.  In particular, the mission noted the following achievements: 

a)  98 dwellings of the ‘”toucouleur “ and “marocaine” types have been completely restored thanks to the training of local masons in the traditional banco technique ;

b)  A very economical pilot system for wastewater treatment introduced in 2002, and based on the installation of a wastewater infiltration system outside each house, has eradicated stagnating wastewater, which was often the cause of illness and weakened the walls of the houses.  A technical evaluation of this system, carried out in 2003 by the Civil Engineering and Geosciences Faculty of Delft (The Netherlands), noted no loss in soil density or backup of infiltrated wastewater.  In view of the considerable improvement in the sanitation of the experimental zones, this system is being extended to the entire town; 

c)  Lateric earth has been used instead of tar for the peripheral road of the town, as well as teak poles imported from Ghana for the installation of electricity.  The choice of these materials, which are compatible with the town environment, shows the will of the State Party to prioritise preservation of the outstanding universal value of the property in the planning of its major infrastructure projects. 

With regard to town management, the mission was informed, by the Cultural Mission of Djenné, of increasingly intense urban development pressure in Djenné.  With the delimitation of the property spread over a radius of four km around the city (due to the presence of nearly 70 archaeological properties identified at the time of inscription), the building of new houses outside the old town by inhabitants is forbidden.  This situation causes constant conflict between some inhabitants, the local municipal authorities and the Ministry of Culture.  The State Party has expressed the wish that this protective boundary be reviewed, notably to the east of the town, where, according to its studies, the archaeological properties are completely infiltrated by alluvia.  The Ministry of Culture has also requested assistance from the World Heritage Centre to seek a solution to free new areas for urban development.  The mission also noted the lack of a development plan that would enable efficient town management.