A TREASURE FROM UNDER
The attempts to keep the ancient Malian manuscripts protected from the vandalizings of the rebels
Lilliana Durante
Under the hot, dry, Mali sun, a lone man paddling a canoe drifted discreetly down the River Niger. Below his feet lay crates of vegetables and fruit...and a priceless treasure stood in a battered turquoise metal crate. The man was traveling North to Bamako, the same trade route his ancestors had traveled centuries before. Simultaneously, another man traveled North by truck, concealing a similar metal box, its contents invaluable, therefore critical that it be kept secret and safe. Systematically, other men traveled via housebound carts, quietly smuggling the secrets of the city out of Timbuktu.
These sturdy metal boxes hold a treasure trove of unthinkably valuable manuscripts, dating back to the 12th century, unlocking the door to Mali, The Middle East's, and Europe's past. The precious documents, over 300,000 of them, are thought to have included subjects such as religious studies, astronomy, medicine, music, and mathematics. Timbuktu's hidden manuscripts hold the studies of Mali's past: "The are family heirlooms. Our history, our heritage," (Kottoor, 2013) says Dr. Adbel Kader Haidara, owner of Timbuktu's biggest private libraries, containing manuscripts dating back to the 16th century. Eva Brozowsky, a german paper restoration specialist who examined some of these chests went on to say that, "The manuscripts of Timbuktu have always been an aspiration for scholars working on the intellectual history of Africa." (Kottoor, 2013)
The historic Muslim city of Timbuktu in Mali has been under many months of Islamic militant rule. The Islamic militants have imposed strict Islamic law and have destroyed property and precious cultural gems. In addition to the Malians fear for their lives, they worry about their city, its treasures, and their heritage being destroyed. During these recurring terrorist attacks, libraries housing ancient manuscripts are in grave danger of being destroyed. In following Islamic law, the rebels deemed it necessary to destroy the shrines of Timbuktu, with in addition held the documents and history of Malian culture.