The ancient library of Timbuktu

The city of Timbuktu is rich in history. From being a major trade route for goods such as Salt and gold to being home to the largest mosque in that region, Djinguereber. Sankore mosque is an additional large mosque that was constructed, serving as an education center focuses on Islamic studies, mathematics, physics, and astronomy.

The Djinguereber mosque at the end of Friday midday prayers. Photograph: Sean Smith/The Guardian. According to Doug Clouatre, Timbuktu was unknown worldwide until the Ghana Empire fell and the Malian Empire followed. This historical site came to be after Mansa Musa embraced Islam and followed that conversion with a pilgrimage to Mecca and a trip to Egypt, where he recruited Egyptians and was inspired to build the largest mosque, which is also referred to as his "longest-standing, significant achievement."¹Clouatre, Doug (2022). Founding of Timbuktu. Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2022

His motive behind using his wealth to make Timbuktu a scholarly center was due to his belief that Islam was the foundation of Eastern Mediterranean culture. Musa's contribution ultimately led to the flourishing of Islamic studies and scholarship in that region.

John Hunwick²Hunwick, John (2023). The Timbuktu Manuscript Tradition. Tinabantu: Journal of African National Affairs. 1 (2), 2003. mentions Timbuktu as the most celebrated site at that time in his article, and Ahmad Baba was among the most respected scholars in Timbuktu. His collection of books consisted of 1600 volumes, which he used to educate his students on jurisprudence, theology, mysticism, and the teachings of the Prophet. Baba was also known for opposing the Moroccan occupation and consequently getting deported to Morocco, where he proceeded with his teachings and became the author of twenty-nine books. The Ahmad Baba Centre for Documentation and Historical Research, also referred to as CEDRAB, is a public library that holds a collection of 20,000 Arabic manuscripts and was established to preserve the manuscripts.

The manuscripts discovered not only illustrate literacy in that region, but they also signify wealth. Thousands of students could receive basic Quranic teaching, but only those from affluent families could become scholars. As a result, scholars did not limit themselves to the number of books they owned.³Singleton, Brent D. (2004). African Bibliophiles: Books and Libraries in Medieval Timbuktu. Libraries and Culture. 39 (1), 2004.

During this golden age, books were more profitable than any other goods. Books were imported from North African countries such as Egypt; however, it cost a fortune to purchase imported Books, which is why most people purchased copied manuscripts instead.⁴Alex Motsi (2004). Manuscript preservation Timbuktu. Koopse Bibl, 2004 Despite playing a critical role in manufacturing the ancient Timbuktu manuscripts today, being a copyist did not provide one with status. However, some scholars copied manuscripts during their pilgrimage to Mecca, which took a great deal of labor and time.

Singleton highlights much of Timbuktu's history, including the fact that Timbuktu's golden age came to an end in 1591 when Morocco invaded and overthrew the Songhai Empire. Libraries were burned, and scholars, including the ones who escaped to Morocco, were executed. As a result of this invasion, in addition to France's colonization, many of the manuscripts were discovered in diverse regions, including Morocco and France.⁵Roiland, Muriel (2017). The Pilot Project for the Mohamed Tahar Library in Timbuktu. Journal of the Early Book Society, 23, 2017.

Alexio Motsi's article (2004) explained that manuscripts have been damaged due to improper storage. Significant efforts have been made to restore and conserve these ancient manuscripts. Some of the manuscripts have deteriorated due to improper handling and storage of the manuscripts, in addition to the excessive heat that accompanies that region. However, many of the manuscripts are preserved in museums, private collections, and libraries. The items must be stored in a temperature and humidity environment that is suitable for them.

As stated by Muriel Roiland's article in 2017, Private libraries in Timbuktu obtained between 300 and 8,000 manuscripts, ranging from voluminous books to short writings consisting of things such as poems, Sufi prayers, magic recipes, etc.

Overall, the manuscripts discovered in Timbuktu illustrate literacy, among other things, such as their knowledge in a wide range of subjects, education as evidenced by their prestigious universities, and their ability to exchange culture. This reflects the wealth a society can obtain beyond tangible currency.