Maintaining Timbuktu s unique tangible and intangible heritage

Africa, the cradle of humanity, holds secrets among its uncountable cultural treasures. Timbuktu, a city of scholarship in Mali and inscribed on UNESCOs World Heritage List in 1988, remains one of those treasures. Timbuktu is a city of earthen architecture, with three main mosques and 16 cemeteries and mausoleums. The Timbuktu World Heritage Site is known for its participatory management approach, initiated by the Timbuktu Cultural Mission. To achieve expanded involvement of local communities and to establish improved management tools are some of the challenges faced by the World Heritage Site. This case study presents initiatives to enhance community involvement in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, from awareness building through tourism management, to building maintenance and conservation. The community has a duty to participate in the maintenance of the mosques, and the ability to continue this tradition represents an essential aspect of their cultural rights.