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Djenné (also Dienné or Jenne) is a city on the Bani River in southern Mali with a population of about 12,000 (in 1987). It is famous for its mud brick architecture, most notably the Great Mosque of Djenné, rebuilt in 1907. In the past, Djenné was a centre of trade and learning, and has been conquered a number of times since its founding. Its historic city center was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
History
Djenné was founded in about 800 by the Bozo people, but moved its site in either 1043 or the thirteenth century, when the city converted to Islam. This increased its importance as a market and a base for trans-Saharan trade, soon rivalling Timbuktu.
In 1325 Djenné became part of the Mali Empire until 1473 when the Songhai Empire under Sonni 'Ali took charge, then in 1591 Morocco conquered the city. By the 1600s, Djenné had become a thriving centre of trade and learning. Caravans from Djenné frequented southern trading towns like Begho, Bono Manso, and Bonduku. It was part of the Bambara kingdom from 1670, and the city was captured by the Fulani ruler of Macina, Shehu Ahmadu Lobbo in 1818, then in 1861 by al-Hajj 'Umar (the Tukolor Emperor), and lastly by the French in 1893. During this period, trade declined and the city's importance with it.
Today, Djenné is an agricultural trade centre for fish, coffee and kola. It is known for its Monday market, while other attractions include the Tomb of Tupama Djenepo, who in legend was sacrificed on the founding of the city, and the remains of Jenné-Jeno, a major city from the third century BC until the thirteenth century.
Djenné is notable in that it becomes an island in the rainy season.
The inhabitants of Djenné speak a Songhay variety termed Djenné Chiini; the villages around it variously speak Bozo, Fulfulde, or Bambara.