4 - Inland Niger Delta, Mali

Inland Niger Delta, Mali (Periods/Cultures/Kingdoms)

Culture: Jenne-Jeno (350_BCE - 1,400_CE)

Kingdom: Kingdom of Djenne (1,200_CE - 1,850_CE)

Inland Niger Delta (location)

Mali

Jenne-Jeno (350_BCE - 1,400_CE) notes

• located in modern-day Mali

• archaeological society

• pottery usually found b/c it doesn’t really break down, textiles do though so there isn’t much of a record of their clothing

• not much is known about Jenne-Jeno (or African history in general) b/c archaeology was not prioritized during colonization, and current research is not usually well-funded or well-carried-out

Jenne-Jeno (dates)

350_BCE - 1,400_CE

Artwork ID: “Seated Figure”

Culture: Jenne-Jeno

Location: Inland Niger Delta, Mali

Dates: 350_BCE - 1,400_CE

Medium: terracotta

“Seated Figure” notes

• all are the same size, unpainted, have the same face, and are in similar poses

• less focus on correct anatomy to focus on expression

  • made to elicit an emotional response

    • drowsy, sad, calm, tired

• some structural concerns of clay to consider composition-wise

• lots of texture/markings on the back

  • not sure why marks are there or what they are due to lack of context

  • could be scars, painting, tattoos, or disease

• all found sealed inside the walls of buildings

  • Could be for protection?

  • Must’ve had some purpose b/c that’s a lot of effort to put into something that wouldn’t be seen

Kingdom of Djenne (dates)

1,200_CE - 1,850_CE

Artwork ID: “Great Friday Mosque”

Artist: King Koi Konboro

Kingdom: Kingdom of Djenne

Location: Inland River Delta, Mali

Dates: (original) c. 1,200_CE - (french reconstruction) 1,907_CE

Medium: mud and wood

“Great Friday Mosque” notes

• stands out easily via scale, architectural style difference, it’s placement in the center of the city (all roads lead to the mosque), and it’s elevation on a platform

• hypostyle hall, but no clerestory

• yearly festival to rennovate

  • unifies men, women, and children

  • belongs to the community, so the community takes care of it

  • UNESCO refurbished mosque, which threw off the traditional festival and angered residents

mosque

Islamic house of worship

finial

an ornament at the top of a spire or gable

• mud peaks on Great Friday Mosque decorated w/ ostrich eggs

hypostyle hall

geometric sections that can be repeated to form a structure

• in this case, pillars in a square unit that is repeated to form a hall

Timbuktu

Mali's capital under Mansa Musa

• Islamic center of commerce and education

qibla wall

most ornate wall of a mosque
- faces Mecca

toron

wooden beams that project from walls of mud-brick building as support for re-plastering

• in the Great Friday Mosque

engaged column

a column attached to a wall (not freestanding)

Sudanic

architectural style

• called Sudanic because the Djenne area used to be called Sudan

• made with mud and torons (wooden beams projecting from wall)

mihrab

niche in the qibla wall
- quotes from the Qur'an are usually above it

mason

a craftsman who works with stone or brick

Mansa Musa

• ruled Empire of Mali (1200-1300? self-governed cities that payed him fees)

  • completed pilgrimage to Mecca in the most ostentatious fashion possible

  • brings back Middle Eastern scholars and founds schools on journey back to Mali