 the great mosque of djennÃ© is a large banco or adobe building that is considered by many architects to be one of the greatest achievements of the sudano-sahelian architectural style. the mosque is located in the city of djennÃ©, mali, on the flood plain of the bani river. the first mosque on the site was built around the 13th century, but the current structure dates from 1907. as well as being the centre of the community of djennÃ©, it is one of the most famous landmarks in africa. along with the "old towns of djennÃ©" it was designated a world heritage site by unesco in 1988. == history == ===the first mosque=== the actual date of construction of the first mosque in djennÃ© is unknown, but dates as early as 1200 and as late as 1330 have been suggested. the earliest document mentioning the mosque is al-sadi's tarikh al-sudan which gives the early history, presumably from the oral tradition as it existed in the mid seventeenth century. the tarikh states that a sultan kunburu became a muslim and had his palace pulled down and the site turned into a mosque. he built another palace for himself near the mosque on the east side."when the sultan became a muslim. he had his palace pulled down and the site turned into a mosque dedicated to god most high. this is the present congregational mosque. he built another palace for himself and his household near the mosque on the east side."  his immediate successor built the towers of the mosque while the following sultan built the surrounding wall."when sultan kunburu died â may god most high have mercy on him â he was succeeded by the sultan who built the towers (abraj) of the congregational mosque. he in turn was succeeded by the sultan who built the wall which surrounds that mosque."  [[image:ruins of the great mosque postcard.jpg|thumb|left|280px|the ruins
20th-century_mosques African_architecture DjennA(c) Massina_Empire Mosques_in_Mali Religious_buildings_completed_in_1907 Religious_organizations_established_in_the_13th_century