Link to article: https://apnews.com/article/mali-timbuktu-manuscripts-extremism-culture-islam-5d67428058eeaadd9445a4d460fa78d2
The AP report of the dramatic rescue of 28,000 Timbuktu manuscripts during the 2012 al-Qaida occupation of Timbuktu. Abdoulaye Cisse and his colleagues risked their lives to move the 28,000 manuscripts from the Ahmed Baba Institute to Bamako to protect centuries of western African intellectual history. The manuscripts reflect debates between scholars, governance practices, and medical remedies and challenge the idea that all of African history was oral. Although al-Qaida destroyed at least 4000 manuscripts in some of the sacred sites in Timbuktu, nearly all of the manuscripts were saved and they are currently being digitally preserved. In August, many of the manuscripts were returned to Timbuktu as a symbol of local pride and perseverance. However, the threat of extremism remains in the region with recent attacks in blockades, which show the very delicate nature of security surrounding this cultural treasure.
Why this article is so important to me is because it shows the intersection of culture, conflict, and identity. The mini scripts prove that Africa has had an extensive written intellectual tradition, also disproving the stereotype that African history was exclusively oral. The fact that the manuscripts were able to be rescued and are now a symbol of the resistance against extremism demonstrate how heritage can bring together communities. The fact that al-Qaida destroyed these manuscripts as a larger attempt to destroy pluralism, well the fact that there is such a large effort to preserve them demonstrates the resilience of people and the importance of preserving cultural memory.
What must happen next is for stakeholders to take action. The Malian Government needs to secure its libraries and increased digital preservation of manuscripts. Civil Society needs to continue to advocate for greater access to manuscripts for the general population. International organizations, such as UNESCO, need to fund and oversee the continued de preservation and protection of these cultural treasures. The local community needs to find a way to continue to engage the public with the preservation process. This relates to our previous class discussion topics regarding cultural heritage, identity, and globalization. The manuscripts represent how knowledge systems form societies. The fact they will be preserved represents resistance to cultural erasure and ties into our previous class discussion about conflict and collective memory.