Mali’s Kolenze Masjid

This is the Kolenze mud mosque in Mali, West Africa.

The mud walls are thick and tapered, to both protect the inside from the heat and support the often two story structures and the roof. During the day, the walls absorb the heat of the day that is released throughout the night, helping the interior of the mosque remain cool all day long.

Some structures, for example, Djenné’s Great Mosque (Masjid), also have roof vents with ceramic caps. These caps, made by the town's women, can be removed at night to ventilate the interior spaces.

Masons have integrated palm wood scaffolding into the building's construction, not as beams, but as permanent scaffolding for the workers who apply plaster annually during the spring festival to restore the mosque. The palm beams also minimize the stress that comes from the extreme temperature and humidity changes typical of the climate.

Men praying in Kolenze mosque (Masjid), in Mali.