Djenné-Djeno- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Djenné-Djenno, an ancient urban center in Mali's Niger River Valley, dates back to 250 BC and flourished as a hub of trade, rice cultivation, and iron production. Archaeological excavations reveal a well-organized settlement with mud-brick architecture, a defensive wall, and evidence of long-distance trade networks, challenging earlier assumptions about West African societal development. Occupied until around 900 AD, the site's decline remains unclear, but its layered mounds and abundant pottery fragments attest to its significance as one of the region's earliest complex societies. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Djenné-Djenno offers insights into pre-colonial African urbanization.