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The wall tells us that the Bantu people were far more organized than the Europeans at the time gave them credit for. They used granite for construction as it was durable and portable. The design of the walls are organized so that the layers are each more recessed than the last to create a stable slope of the wall. And they continue to stand today. It is believed that the walls served ritualistic purposes and to be a show of authority. It is also important to note the eight birds carved from soapstone to potentially depict rulers. Though it is unlikely the Bantu people were literate, it is clear they were an organized and prosperous people with wealth to show power and to afford art and communication through art.
The Great Mosque of Djenne depicts the melting pot of culture and community through its architecture, location, and ornamentation. It was originally a exclusively Islamic building though it became a political symbol after the French takeover in 1892. It has been rebuilt three times, obviously showing change after each construction. From Islamic and Sultan influence to French construction to the last rebuild in 1907. The Mosque is built in a location that contains much trade and influence from a variety of cultures, predominantly French and Islamic however.
The Great Mosque of Djenne depicts the melting pot of culture and community through its architecture, location, and ornamentation. It was originally a exclusively Islamic building though it became a political symbol after the French takeover in 1892. It has been rebuilt three times, obviously showing change after each construction. From Islamic and Sultan influence to French construction to the last rebuild in 1907. The Mosque is built in a location that contains much trade and influence from a variety of cultures, predominantly French and Islamic however.