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22 Jan, 2015

Mali: UN conference to examine conservation of Mali’s precious ancient manuscripts

21.01.2015 – UNESCOPRESS – Nearly two years after armed groups occupied northern Mali and destroyed cultural heritage there, an international conference will take place in the capital, Bamako, from 28 to 30 January to examine the long-term conservation of the country’s invaluable ancient manuscript collection

UNESCO’s Office in Bamako, Mali’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Learning and Islamic Research have organized the conference in partnership with the Malian Ministry of Culture, Crafts and Tourism*.

Entitled “Ancient Manuscripts Facing Modern Day Challenges”, the conference will examine the future of the manuscripts that were smuggled out of Timbuktu in 2012 to Bamako, where they are still kept. Participants will also discuss the historic importance of this fragile heritage and the role of local communities in its safeguarding. The agenda of the conference will also address issues relating to the fight against illicit trafficking and UNESCO’s activities to help preserve the manuscripts;

The many speakers at the event (see programme, in French) include scholars, representatives of cultural institutions, religious and local communities and policy-makers. There will also be a preview of the documentary film, “Sur la piste des manuscripts de Tombouctou” (On the Trail of the Manuscripts of Timbuktu”), at the French Institute of Bamako on 28 January (6 p.m.).

A manuscript from the 14th century, part of Mali’s invaluable ancient manuscript collection. UN Photo/Marco Dormino

 Cultural heritage, including manuscripts, suffered severe damage during the occupation of northern parts of the country by armed groups in 2012 and 2013, and the insurgents burned or stole 4,203 manuscripts held at the Ahmed Baba Institute. Nonetheless, the local population was able to save 90% of these documents, with the help of the non-governmental heritage organization, SAVAMA-DCI, which is a partner of the Conference.

The manuscripts of Timbuktu form a collection of several hundred thousand documents some of which date as far back as the 13th century. They include scholarly and theological works as well as commercial texts. They are written in Arabic and in African languages using different forms of Arabic script.

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*The conference has been organized with the financial support of Norway with additional contributions from the MINUSMA, Switzerland, the European Union, the United Kingdom and France.

For more information (in French): http://www.cimam-2015.org/