The President Toure and Prince Aga Khan in Mopti: The Great Mosque

Translated via Google: Source L’Essor – Afribone

The religious building which is part of the national heritage has been completely renovated with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture The city of Mopti yesterday was in turmoil for two good reasons: the inauguration of the Great Mosque
and the new market of the city. The mobilization of the population was at the height of the importance of both events. The Mopticiens have indeed received a memorable the president, Amadou Toumani Touré, and His Highness the Aga Khan, who came to inaugurate the renovated Grand Mosque Mopti located in Ward Komoguel I. Even the oppressive heat which currently raging in no way tempered the zeal and enthusiasm of the inhabitants of the “Venice of Mali.”

Yesterday, it was 8:15 when the plane carrying the head of state s’immobilisa on the tarmac of the airport Ambodedjo of Sévaré where there was an animation major days. The president will be hosted at its descent aircraft by the mayor of Mopti, Oumar Bathily. After the surrender of traditional gourd of water and colas, Amadou Toumani Touré reviewing a detachment of the armed forces, before greeting the functional constituencies. He then set up in the lobby of honour at the airport. But not for long.

Indeed, 30 minutes later, the plane was landing the Aga Khan. The host shows will be hosted in turn by the Head of State. A few minutes later, the procession s’ébranla official for the city of Mopti. But the convoy could only advance to speed chameleon, as the two sides of the road linking the airport to the city of Mopti were black people. So long after that shook the procession arrived on the place of the mosque.

The Great Mosque Mopti, which has just been restored has been listed as national heritage country in 2005. The church building was built between 1936 and 1943 on the site of an earlier mosque dating from 1908.

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The mosque was present when the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) began its restoration in 2004. The work lasted two years. The restoration of the Great Mosque was made using traditional techniques of construction land. The method has the advantage of revitalizing these techniques while making the site a true conservative trades and traditional knowledge.

The restoration of the mosque allowed to combine modern techniques and traditional construction, said yesterday His Highness the Aga Khan in speech sounds. One of the major challenges of this restoration was to remove the cement shell that covered the upper parts which had caused many alterations to the building.

The restoration work has focused over the imposing building. They also continue a sanitation around the mosque and neighborhood, by creating spaces and public services for the community. These activities are integrated within the overall framework of the objectives of the Aga Khan Development Network and are completed in Mopti on the achievements of the Foundation and the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance.

The President Amadou Toumani Touré warmly thanked the Aga Khan and all those who contributed to the achievement of the jewel. “I can not be more proud,” soberly summed up the head of state, before turning to the restoration of the mosque in Timbuktu Djingarey Ber through the same Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

Amadou Toumani Touré announced that the famous mosque in Djenne will also be renovated. The ceremony ended with a guided tour of the mosque. His Highness the Aga Khan then continued his visit by visiting Timbuktu.
In the afternoon, the head of state chaired a ceremony other major opening of the market “Machingadjé” Mopti. We will return to this event in our next edition.