Mali

Tomb of Askia

WHS Score 2.22
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Votes 3 Average 2.83
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Votes for Tomb of Askia

2.0

  • Erik Jelinek

2.5

  • Harry Mitsidis

4.0

  • SHIHE HUANG

The fifteenth-century Tomb of Askia in Gao is a fine example of the monumental mud-building traditions of the West African Sahel.

It is believed to be the burial place of Askia Mohammad I, the first Emperor of the Songhai Empire, which once controlled the lucrative trans-Saharan trade from West Africa. The complex includes the pyramidal tomb, two mosques, a cemetery and an assembly ground. It receives a regular renewal of the layer of plaster, which erodes each winter. 

Community Perspective: located in a region with long-standing security issues, the site has only been reviewed once so far. Werner visited on a day trip in 2011.

Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Tomb of Askia (ID: 1139)
Country
Mali
Status
Inscribed 2004 Site history
History of Tomb of Askia
2004: Inscribed
Inscribed
2012: In Danger
threatened by armed conflict & to prevent trafficking in cultural objects from the site
In Danger
threatened by armed conflict & to prevent trafficking in cultural objects from the site Since 2012
WHS Type
Cultural
Criteria
  • ii
  • iii
  • iv
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources
News Article
  • Feb. 14, 2014 un.org — UN experts find 'serious damage' to cultural sites in Gao

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Archaeological site: Civilizations of Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Secular structure: Burial
  • Cultural Landscape: Continuing
Travel Information
Red Zone Travel Advisory
Red Zone Travel Advisory
Mali fully off-limits
Recent Connections
View all (22) .
Connections of Tomb of Askia
Geography
Trivia
History
  • Songhai Empire
    Born Muhammad Toure, he took the opportunity of the death of the Songhai King in 1492 to defeat the heir (who had refused to become a Moslem) and thus make himself king. He expanded and consolidated the Empire,becoming known as "Askia the Great" (Askia = "Forceful One"). Situated in Gao - his capital
  • Located in a Former Capital
    Located in Gao, capital of Songhai Empire (1340-1591)
  • Trans Saharan trade routes
    " bears testimony to the power and riches of the empire that flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries through its control of the trans-Saharan trade, notably in salt and gold." (AB)
  • African Kingdoms
    Songhai Empire (1430s - 1591)

    See en.wikipedia.org

Architecture
World Heritage Process
Religion and Belief
Constructions
WHS on Other Lists
Timeline
Visiting conditions
WHS Names
News
un.org 02/14/2014
UN experts find 'serious damage' t…

Community Reviews

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First published: 16/02/11.

Werner Huber

Tomb Of Askia

Tomb of Askia (Inscribed)

Tomb of Askia by Werner Huber

We visited Gao as part of our Mali-trip in Jan 2011. For security reasons triggered by the issues between governments in the Sahel area and Sahara terrorist groups we were advised not to stay overnight in Gao, so we came early in the morning from Hombori and returned the same afternoon.

On this very day we were obviously the only travellers in Gao. We had to ask for the warden of the Askia-tomb and got it opened for us. The tomb itself (dated from 1495) is of a pyramid shape, has a very similar structure than the mosque of Djenné and is surrounded by a mosque building. The guide showed us around, we could climb the tomb and also visit the mosque for a little tip, something rather unusual for non-muslims in Mali.

The real highlight is the trip through Mali itself, a country of apparingly easy minded and extremely friendly people with a lot of interesting locations. The heritage sites add some flavour, but the country itself is definitely worth a visit.

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