Great Mosque of Djenne

Definition

The Great Mosque Of Djenne is located in Mali; it's considered one among the greatest achievements of Sudano-Sahelian architecture. It's also the largest mud-brick building in the world.

Analogy

The Great Mosque of Djenne is like a grand sandcastle at the beach, but instead of being made from sand and water, it's constructed from sun-baked mud bricks, clay, and wood.

Related terms

Sudano-Sahelian Architecture: A style of African architecture with two sub-styles based primarily on Islamic influence spread across Sahel region.

Mali Empire: A powerful African empire that controlled trade routes across West Africa and was known for its wealth and learning centers.

Mud-brick: A brick made from a mixture of loam, mud, sand and water mixed with a binding material such as rice husks or straw.