Timbuktu was a Black African city of significant importance to some of the great West African empires of the Middle Ages from the 11th century onwards. The city’s first brick buildings were designed by the African architects of Djenne. The city developed as a centre of learning, many years before Oxford University was founded. An influx of scholars from Ancient Ghana boosted Timbuktu’s centre of learning.
The city’s importance grew steadily and by the 12th century. Timbuktu was the most important and celebrated centre of learning in sub-Saharan Africa. Black African students formed the majority, but significant numbers of students from across the Muslim world and elsewhere flocked to its famous universities.
Manuscripts from Timbuktu describe the building of a fleet of ships by the emperor Abu Baka. The ships were constructed by engineers from across the Muslim world. It set sail to the Americas many years before Christopher Columbus set foot on a ship.
Timbuktu was home to three universities and 180 Qur’anic schools. The libraries of Timbuktu were filled with books written in the city and with books imported from outside. Timbuktu’s Black scholars were reputedly hailed as academically superior to Arab and European scholars who came to the city to study. On his return to Mali after a pilgrimage to Mecca, Mansa Musa brought with him a number of Arab scholars who settled in Timbuktu.
The name Timbuktu became so famous after the pilgrimage of Mansa Musa that years after his death European scholars still included Ancient Mali in their maps of the time. Timbuktu’s position as an important centre of commerce was also well established.
Timbuktu remained a celebrated university city until 1591 when a Moroccan army invaded and looted the city. Many scholars and manuscripts were taken to Morocco. Many libraries were burnt to the ground.
Today over 700,000 manuscripts are in danger of being lost forever. These manuscripts detail key scientific disciplines like astronomy and medicine, as well as theological works. They are clear and irrevocable evidence of advanced learning and civilization in sub-Saharan Black Africa. They are testimony to the fact that Black African civilization has always been a reality.
Sankore University built during the 12th century and Jingaray Ber University are just two of the remaining monuments, parts of which still exist but in need of specialist support to prevent their loss.
