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All Mali Grand Mosque of Mopti
AO Edited

Grand Mosque of Mopti

Every year, people come together to cover this mud-brick mosque with a fresh layer of earth.

Mopti, Mali

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robertkylemolina
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Grand Mosque of Mopti   Ralf Steinberger / CC BY 2.0
Grand Mosque of Mopti   Ralf Steinberger / CC BY 2.0
Main entrance of the Mosque   robertkylemolina / Atlas Obscura User
Grand Mosque of Mopti from the Street   robertkylemolina / Atlas Obscura User
Aerial view of Grand Mosque of Mopti   robertkylemolina / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The Grand Mosque of Mopti, also known as Komoguel Mosque, is a prime example of Sahelian and Niger Valley architecture that stands 15 meters tall and is made out of mud brick.

This mosque was built in the 1930s, on the site of an older mosque that had been built in the early 20th century. The construction project was led by M. Cocheteaux, the French Resident Administrator of the Mopti region, who based the design on the Great Mud Mosque of Djenné, which is located about 50 miles to the southwest.

Maintenance of this historic mosque is a community effort. Every year, people come together to refresh the structure's covering with a new layer of mud and rice straw. Some are locals, but others travel long distances to take part in the work. In 2009, the Grand Mosque of Mopti was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

Related Tags

Sacred Spaces Architecture Islam Religion Mosques

Know Before You Go

A good tip for getting great views of the mosque is that on the street behind it, there is a local who will let you go on his rooftop in exchange for a small donation to appreciate the mosque from above.

Community Contributors

Added By

robertkylemolina

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

November 1, 2024

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  • https://www.africanews.com/2024/05/13/mali-residents-re-plaster-great-mosque-of-djenneto-save-heritage-site/
  • https://trtafrika.com/lifestyle/mosque-of-mopti-a-mosque-that-changes-colour-every-year-17979573
  • https://www.archnet.org/sites/5396
  • https://projects.mcah.columbia.edu/mopti/
  • https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5442/
  • https://www.worldheritagesite.org/tentative/id/5442
Grand Mosque of Mopti
Mopti
Mali
14.486813, -4.189641

Nearby Places

Bandiagara Escarpment Cliff Dwellings

Bandiagara, Mali

miles away

Great Mud Mosque of Djenné

Djenne, Mali

miles away

Antogo Fishing Frenzy

Koro, Mali

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mali

Mali

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Bandiagara Escarpment Cliff Dwellings

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Great Mud Mosque of Djenné

Djenne, Mali

miles away

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mali

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Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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