The Mali Empire gained direct control over the city of Timbuktu in 1324 during the reign of Mansa Kankan Musa. Upon returning from his famous Hajj, Musa brought the Granada architect Abu Ishaq es Saheli from Egypt to help build mosques and palaces throughout the empire. He designed and saw the construction of one of Sankore's first great mosques and the Jingeray Ber Masjid in 1327.

The foundations of the previous structure were laid around 989 A.D. on the orders of the city's chief judge Al-Qadi Aqib ibn Mahmud ibn Umar. A local Mandinka lady, esteemed for her wealth, financed his plans to turn Sankoré into a world class learning institution with professors on par with any outside of Africa. He had the Mosque's courtyard built to the exact dimensions of the Ka'abah in Mecca, using a rope for precise measurements.

Growth as a Center of Learning

Timbuktu had long been a destination or stop for merchants from the Middle East and North Africa. It wasn't long before ideas as well as merchandise began passing through the fabled city. Since most if not all these traders were Muslim, the mosque would see visitors constantly. The temple accumulated a wealth of books from throughout the Muslim world becoming not only a center of worship but a center of learning. Books became more valuable than any other commodity in the city, and private libraries sprouted up in the homes of local scholars.

Apex

By the end of Mansa Musa's reign, the Sankoré Masjid had been converted into a fully staffed Madrassa (Islamic school or in this case university) with the largest collections of books in Africa since the Library of Alexandria. The level of learning at Timbuktu's Sankoré University was on the part with other Islamic centers in the world. The Sankoré Masjid was capable of housing 25,000 students and had one of the largest library in the world with between 400,000 to 700,000 manuscripts.

Organization

As the center of an Islamic scholarly community, the University was very different in organization from the universities of medieval Europe. It had no central administration other than the Emperor. It had no student registers but kept copies of its student publishings. It was composed of several entirely independent schools or colleges, each run by a single master or imam. Students associated themselves with a single teacher, and courses took place in the open courtyard of the mosque or at private residences.

Curriculum

The curriculum of Sankoré and other masjids in the area had four levels of schooling or "degrees". On graduating from each level, students would receive a turban symbolizing their mastery. The schooling was not secular as arguments that could not be backed by the Qu'ran were inadmissible in debates. However, secular teaching (geometry, mathematics) were included and stressed to develop well-rounded individuals.

Qu'ranic School

The first or primary degree (Qur'anic school) required a mastery of Arabic language and writing along with complete memorization of the Qur'an. Students were also introduced to basic sciences at this level.

General Studies

The secondary degree or General Studies degree focused on full emersement in the basic sciences. Students learned grammar, mathematics, geography, history, physics, astronomy, chemistry alongside more advanced learnings of the Qu'ran. At this level they learned Hadiths, jurisprudence and the sciences of spiritual purification according to Islam. Finally, they began an introduction to trade school and business ethics. On graduation day, students were given turbans symbolizing Divine light, wisdom, knowledge and excellent moral conduct. After receiving their diplomas the students would gather outside the examination building or the main campus library and throw their turbans high into the air cheering and holding each other's hands to show that they were all brothers and sisters,[3] like many African American students still do to this day. This is certainly another aspect of the largely neglected cultural transfer in the academic field that the modern world owes to the University of Timbuktu.

Superior Degree

The Superior degree required students to study under specialized professors doing research work. Much of the learning centered on debates to philosophic or religious questions. Before graduating from this level, students attached themselves to a Sheik (Islamic teacher) and demonstrated a strong character.

Alumni Level

The last level of learning at Sankoré or any of the Masjids was the level of Judge or Professor. These men worked mainly as judges for the city and eventually the region dispersing learned men to all the principal cities in Mali. A third level student who had impressed his Sheihk enough was admitted into a "circle of knowledge" and valued as a truly learned individual and expert in his field. The members of this scholar's club were the equivalent of tenured professors. Those who did not leave Timbuktu remained there to teach or council the Who's Who of the region on important legal and religious matters. They would receive questions from the region's powerful (kings or governors) and distribute them to the third level students as research assignments. After discussing the findings among themselves, the scholars would issue a fatwa on the best way to deal with the problem at hand.

Scholars of Sankoré

• Ahmed Baba
• Mohammed Bagayogo
• Modibo Mohammed Al Kaburi
• Sheik Sidi Abu Al Barakaat Mahmud ibn Umar
• Abu Al Baraaka
• Abu Bakr ibn Ahmad Biru
• Mohammed ibn Mohammed Kara
• Ag Mohammed
• Al Aqib ibn Faqi Muhmud
• Abd Arahman ibn Faqi Mahmud
• Al Moctar Ag Mohammed ibn Utman

Baba Ahmed Quotes

"One of our problems still today is our inability to bcome grounded in an Afrikan culture that clearly shows itself to be 180 degrees opposite european cultures...beginning with the Greeks & Romans on til today's descendents" "We must realize that we, generally, Ancient and Traditional Afrikans, were civilized b4 the coming of Judaism, Christianity & Islam; or a Plato, Socrates, Descarte, Freud, Marx or Engels! Morals and ethics, the basis of an educational philosophy and methods, economic system, of a political ideology, kwk, kwk, kwd were developed by our Ancients thousands of years b4 our deteriorations in conditions, worsen and worsen and worsened"

"All knowledge is colored by the folk who spit that knowledge. There is no pure knowledge"


"A serious dive into a SANKOFA journey brings both smiles and tears. But that's part of a transformation we're into now. An effective Sankofa journey demands actions, based in Afrikan Centered thoughts and behaviors."


"We can always use some shakers and movers! With youthful energies and aged experiences bathed in wisdom"


"One piece of advice to our younger members: attend a HBCU to study agriculture. Or if u have relatives with land in the South, visit them more often. Think about our need for health in this continuing struggle we entail to bcome self determined; to re connect with GRANDMama Herat"


"We're caught up in a unique set of experiences. In my opinion, our reclamations exist in our varied Traditional Afrikan ways. For in my opinion, the glorious ways of the Ancients' ways have yet to have transliterated, translated and interpreted AND PUBLISHED about everyday peoples during those glorious times and how they lived! We can, as many do, keep calling ourselves Queens, Kings and the like. But until we take on the characteristics of those grand names? Well... connect the dots"


"Each generation gets its chance to show and prove"


"Some of u folk best wake up to everyday realities that require earning one's keep. Being holier than thou will not feed not one starving or even hungry Afrikan! Nowhere on this planet. If u can't offer something better than what u by word of mouf try to destroy, leave it alone! Til u gain some power to stop what u see as harmful."


"I'm just a relay man trying to improve my husband, father and grandfather requirements. That's sho'nuf constant work. Y'all (youngins) build the institutions."


"In an Afrikan society as I understand both men and wombmen have restraints within their familes, villages, regional districts, kwk kwk kwk. Nobody's free to do as he or she please... not even a King or a Queen"


"We will not undo what has occurred over a couple of millenium, at least. Patience is a virtue; the type I was taught that shows consistency; something done everyday that grows into constancy. That's the way, to me, for extended journies. America produces socially expectations of "newness" in life and immediate successes. The best I can do now is to make sure that the little efforts are in the framework of Afrikan liberations"


"I respectfully suggest that this site (Assata Speaks) is given a closer look inside. An example lives right here of how to do online organizing and keep it on any level the organizer(s) intend. This site's founders, & I give thanks to, have produced both grassroots results and a schematic for nation wide linkings. Each of us must find his or her niche. I've found part of mine here; or lets say means to continue what was done before. I'm old and there's no need for me to always be in a forefront, a vanguard. Energy don't act like that. Physically, mentally nor spiritually."


"Typing is not work for me, when it's used to exchange useful information"


"never allow words separate u from reality; ya hear?"


"u nor I had any choice in who were used to bring us alive to this realm of existence. We do have choices in choice of allegiances in life... remember that"


"I too feel frustrated and stifled sometimes; such times I slow myself down and either talk w/someone trustworthy; e.g., w/me its Ayeesha; then other times I just sit quietly or involve myself into something I know helps me to b different from what this dominant societal ways call to and demand us to b. then like recently I'm remember'n to do libation even b4 answering an email"


"I can't imagine how I'd feel if after bein given an opportunity to help one of my future leaders along her way; after bein placed in your presence I manifest poor example"


"I've always told my children to concentrate on two things: how can it, the knowledge, be used in their lives and make sure they understand how"


"Each time I experience enlightening raps with Continental Afrikans I know someday our peoples will again be seen as one people in all the widely differening cultures"


"Afrikan worldview is diametrically opposite that of EuroCentric thought. Also altho both rational thought with its analysis are useful, a major problem in EuroCentric thought forms is expressed in a saying of those who "see the trees but not the forest." That is keenly does it demand rational analysis but have big problems in ability to synthesize"


"Locate a library that u will become a regular visitor to and become recognized by the people who work there. Remember u're trying to form a friendly relationship with one or more of the librarians. Usually over here, every library I visit regularly everyone gets to know me. Methinks they realize that I dig and respect librarians."


"the thousands of Afrikans who were murdered by Nazi Germany during this war does not compare with the 280 million Afrikans murdered in the Maafa. Therefore, we use the Hellacaust to distinguish, in name and magnitude what was done to us by all of them from what was done to a group of them by them"

Source:
Baba Ahmed Speaks at Assata's Forums
Compiled by Elisa "Arena" Marvena