Tomb of Askia

The Tomb of Askia, in Gao, Mali, is believed to be the burial place of Askia Muhammad I, one of the Songhai Empire’s most important emperors. It was built at the end of the fifteenth century and is now a special place recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

UNESCO says the tomb shows the amazing way people in West Africa built big structures from mud a long time ago. The tomb includes a tall, pyramid-shaped building, two mosques, a cemetery, and a place for meetings. Standing at 17 metres (56 feet) tall, it is the biggest building made before colonial times in Gao. Its style, called Sudano-Sahelian architecture, influenced buildings across the area.

Over time, people have made some changes to the tomb. In the 1960s and mid-1970s, they made the mosque buildings bigger. In 1999, they built a wall around the tomb. Workers have also regularly covered the buildings with plaster to keep them in good shape, since they are made of mud. In the early 2000s, electricity was added, so now there are lights, fans, and a speaker on top. Today, the Tomb of Askia is still used as a mosque and as a cultural centre for the people of Gao. Laws protect the tomb and the area around it.

History

Askia Mohammed was the first emperor of the Songhai Empire and expanded its lands greatly. He was a strong believer in Islam and traveled on a pilgrimage to Mecca, returning in 1497 or 1498. When he came back, he used materials from Mecca, like mud and wood, to build his tomb. The tomb was designed to look like a house with many rooms and paths. It was sealed up after Askia Mohammed passed away. While only he is buried inside the tomb itself, other members of the Askia family are buried in the courtyard around it.