University of Sankoré

**Sankoré Madrasa** (dem sanso dey bell am de **Sankoré** **Mosque,** **Sankoré Masjid** anaa **University of Sankoré**) be one of three medieval mosques den centres of learning wey dey locate insyd Timbuktu, Mali, de odas be de Djinguereber den Sidi Yahya mosques. Dem found am insyd de 14th century, de Sankoré mosque go thru multiple periods of patronage den renovation under both de Mali Empire den de Songhai Empire til ein decline wey dey follow de Battle of Tondibi insyd 1591. De mosque develop go madrasa (wey dey mean school anaa college insyd Arabic), e reach ein peak insyd de 16th century. Dem samtyms dey appy de term "University of Sankoré" to de Sankoré madrasa, though evidence no dey of centralized teaching institution such as de term university dey imply. Instead de mosque serve as de focal point for individual scholars plus dema own private students, den as location for wich dem dey hold sam lectures den classes.

## History
Na dem originally build de Sankoré mosque insyd de 14th-15th centuries plus de financial backing of Tuareg woman of de Aghlal tribe. Modern analyzes reject de understanding dat na der be al-Sahili influence for West African architecture top - now dem treat am as myth - dey demonstrate say de architectural style of West African mosques dem derive mainly from mosques insyd de Sahara den traditional African architecture den religions.

Na dem later restore de Sankore Mosque between 1578 den 1582 AD by Imam Al-Aqib ibn Mahmud ibn Umar, de Chief Qadi (judge) of Timbuktu. Imam al-Aqib demolish de sanctuary wey he make dem rebuild am plus de dimensions of de Kaaba insyd Mecca. De Sankoré madrasa prosper den cam turn significant place of learning within de Sudanic Muslim world, especially during de 15th den 16th centuries under Askia dynasty of de Songhai Empire (1493–1591). Na Sankoré be de mosque wey na ebe chiefly associate plus teaching insyd Timbuktu for dis period insyd.

### Growth as center of learning
Timbuktu develop as commercial centre insyd de 14th century, as Walata, de previous hub of trans-Saharan trade insyd de region, e begin dey decline for importance. Na e no be long before ideas as well as merchandise begin dey pass thru de city. Muslim scholars dem associate plus de Sankoré mosque accumulate wealth of books from thru out de Muslim world, dey lead to Sankoré make e cam turn centre of learning as well as centre of worship. For ein peak na de mosque be de focal point for class of Islamic scholars twey na dem hold dem for high regard both locally den abroad. Songhai kings go even bestow numerous gifts for dema top during Ramadan.

## Scholars of Sankoré
De African civilizations get rich history insyd literature den de arts, long before dema contact plus de Arabian den Western worlds. De scholars dem employ for de Sankoré university na ebe of de highest quality, "dey astound even de most learned men of Islam". As such, dem later induct scholars as professors for universities insyd Morocco den Egypt. Scholars na dem be accomplished insyd multiple disciplines wey dem employ make dem no teach de students per for de university, buh make dem spread de madrasa ein influence to oda parts of de Islamic world. Under de direction of Askia Daoud, ruler of de Songhai empire from 1549 to 1583, de university grow to encompass 180 facilities den house 25,000 students. Na one Ulema dey lead each facility, for total of 180 scholars.

### Notable Scholars
Sam significant scholars dey include Abu Abdallah, Ag Mohammed ibn Utman, Ag Mohammed Ibn Al-Mukhtar An-Nawahi. Most cam from wealthy den religious families wey na dem be members of de Sufi Qadiriyya. Na de most influential scholar be Ahmad Bamba wey na he serve as de final chancellor of Sankoré Madrasa. Ein life be brilliant example of de range den depth of West African intellectual activity before colonialism. Na he be de author of over forty books, plus nearly each one dey get different theme. Na he sanso be one of de first citizens make dem protest de Moroccan conquest of Timbuktu insyd 1591. Eventually, he, along plus ein peer scholars, na dem imprison den exile dem go Morocco. Dis lead to de loss of ein personal collection of 1,600 books, wich na ebe one of de richest libraries of ein day.

### Religious Pilgrimage
Apart from dema time working insyd dema theoretical studies den de preservation of knowledge, na de scholars of Timbuktu be extremely pious. Chaw embark for de Hajj, de religious pilgrimage go Mecca, wey dem use dis opportunity make dem hold discussions plus scholars from oda parts of de Muslim world. For de way home, de scholars show dema humble nature by both dem dey learn from oda leading scholars insyd Cairo, wey dem dey volunteer make dem teach pupils of oda schools insyd Kano, Katsina, den Walata. Mohammed Bagayogo receive honorary doctorate insyd Cairo for ein holy pilgrimage go Mecca.

## References


## Read further

* Saad, Elias N. (1983). *Social History of Timbuktu: The Role of Muslim Scholars and Notables 1400–1900*. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-24603-2.
* Gomez, Michael A. (2018). *African Dominion: A New History of Empire in Early and Medieval West Africa*. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691177427

## External links

* Ancient Manuscripts from the Desert Libraries of Timbuktu, Library of Congress — *exhibition of manuscripts from the Mamma Haidara Commemorative Library*