TITLE:
The Survival of Earthen Architecture in Malian Sahel, Case Study: The Historic City of Djenné
AUTHORS:
Diakite Siriman, Yanan Wang
KEYWORDS:
Architecture, Conservation, City, Heritage, Tourism
JOURNAL NAME:
Current Urban Studies,
Vol.9 No.1,
March
1,
2021
ABSTRACT: Heritage conservation is one of the concerns in public urban governance
policies. The Malian Sahel is one of the oldest centers of urban civilization.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, Djenné is one of Mali’s great
tourist destinations. The conservation of the architectural heritage has made
tourism the engine for the economy of the city of Djenné. This research aims to
assess the impact of the architectural and urban heritage of Djenné on the
lives of residents. After zooming in on the advancement of Djenné, this work
analyses the deep and complex relationships between urban heritage and the life
of the residents. It highlights the advantages and consequences of earthen
constructions. It reveals the mysterious character of Djenné. Taking religious
beliefs and cultural values into account is essential in any urban project in
this mysterious city. The novelty of this work lies in its framework marked by
an unprecedented security pressure in the region. Thanks to data collected from
the administration, surveys, and interviews with stakeholders, this work
carried out elements that indicate the slump currently experienced by the
occupants of Djenné. That situation dangerously threatens the conservation of
heritage for the future. Finally, all of this should inspire decision-makers
and planners to provide mechanisms for building a more dynamic socio-economic
life, capable of reorienting and re-adjusting quickly.