page_title: Missiri mosque
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Missiri mosque / Description
caption_attribution_description: Mosque Missiri (Frejus)
context_page_description: The Missiri Mosque is a former French military community center inspired by sub-Saharan Islamic architecture. It was constructed in 1928–1930 for the Senegalese Tirailleurs based in military camps in Fréjus, southern France. Although its appearance evokes that of a mosque, its purpose and uses remained secular.
  The building was included in the supplementary inventory of French historic monuments on 18 June 1987.
context_section_description: The building stands on the outskirts of Fréjus in the former military camp of Caïs. Captain Abdel Kader Mademba, supported by Colonel Lame, then commander in arms, took the initiative for the project and built a mosque in the Caïs camp on the road to Bagnols-en-Forêt.
  The construction started in 1928. Completed in 1930, it received the name of Missiri, which means "mosque" in the western African language Bambara. Its architecture is inspired by that of the Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali. A second replica of this mosque existed in France. Built in the Bois de Vincennes, for the Paris Colonial Exposition of 1931, it was demolished shortly after the end of the exhibition.
  At the time, it was embellished with African huts and reconstructed termite mounds with the aim of, according tho Captain Abdel Kader Mademba "giving the black skirmishers the illusion, as faithful as possible, of the materialization of a setting similar to the one they had left; that he finds there, in the evening, during interminable palaver, the echoes of the tam-tam echoing against the walls of a familiar construction, evocative of visions likely to soften the feeling of isolation from which he is sometimes afflicted, placing him, as it were, in a native atmosphere."
  The French newspaper l'Illustration devoted an article on 2 June 1928 to the undertaking of Captain Abdel Kader Mademba:
  La future mosquée, de cette couleur rouge, sombre et vive à la fois, qu'avait le Pavillon de l'Afrique occidentale française aux Arts décoratifs, sera faite en agglomérés et en ciment. Ce sera une œuvre collective où chacun apportera sa part. Déjà, le maire de Fréjus a offert une partie des matériaux (sable et pierres) pour rien ; d'autre part, l'aviation maritime s'est chargée des transports ; enfin, la main d'œuvre, abondante et gratuite, sera assurée par la garnison et les coloniaux de là bas. Cependant, les frais demeurent encore considérables. Il faut prévoir, nous écrit le lieutenant-colonel J. Ferrandi, secrétaire général de "La France militaire", une dépense d'environ, 50 000 francs.
  — L'Illustration (2 June 1928)
  The future mosque, of that same red color, dark and bright at the same time, which the French West Africa Pavilion at the Decorative Arts had, will be made of agglomerates and cement. It will be a collective work where everyone will contribute their share. Already, the mayor of Fréjus has offered a part of the materials (sand and stones) for nothing; on the other hand, the maritime aviation has taken care of the transport; finally, the labor, abundant and free, will be provided by the garrison and the colonials from there. However, the costs were still considerable. It is necessary to foresee," wrote Lieutenant-Colonel J. Ferrandi, Secretary-General of "La France Militaire", "an expenditure of approximately 50,000 francs.
  — L'illustration (2 June 1928)
  The Missiri mosque is entirely made of reinforced concrete covered with red plaster, to match the soil tones around Fréjus (the original is made of mudbricks with a dominant yellow ochre color). It has a square floor plan with four wings surrounding a central courtyard opening onto the galleries with horseshoe arches. The corners are flanked by turrets and two large central towers, to the east and west, shelter the stairs leading to the terrace. On the outer walls, plastered concrete spikes imitate the wooden beams holding the mudbrick structure of the original mosque. Inside, the murals depicting a camel and Senegalese Tirailleurs are unfinished. With its external wall measuring 21 m × 21 m (69 ft × 69 ft), the Missiri has a central uncovered 9 m × 9 m (30 ft × 30 ft) courtyard.
  Although its appearance evokes that of a mosque, its purpose and uses remained secular. The Missiri does not include a wall directed to Mecca, a mihrab or a covered prayer area, which are important architectural elements of a proper place of worship for Muslims. Muslim Senegalese tirailleurs prayed in an open area (musalla) outside Missiri.
caption: Reconstructed termite mounds next to the Missiri mosque.
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