In Djenne, Mali, thousands of local residents participated in the annual replastering of the Great Mosque, the largest mud-brick building in the world, during the weekend. This ritual, crucial for the mosque's maintenance, involves residents applying a new coat of mud to protect the structure from the imminent rainy season. The mosque, central to Djenne's heritage and once a major tourist attraction, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage in Danger since 2016 due to ongoing conflicts in the area involving Islamist rebels and government forces.
Participants, ranging from all social classes, engaged in traditional roles with men and boys applying the mud and women and girls preparing the mixture. The event underscores the community's commitment to preserving their cultural heritage amid security concerns heightened by regional insurgency issues, influencing the safety of cultural events and significantly impacting the local tourism industry. The necessity of the mosque's maintenance was emphasized as critical for preserving the nation's culture.