Al Sahili facts for kids
Abu Ishaq Ibrahim al-Sahili (1290–1346) was a talented architect who lived during the time of the powerful Mali Empire. He worked for the famous ruler, Mansa Musa.
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Early Life and Journeys
Abu Ishaq Ibrahim al-Sahili was born in Granada in 1290. At that time, Granada was part of Muslim Spain. From a young age, al-Sahili showed great skill. He studied both law and different art forms. He was also known as a very gifted poet. His family was wealthy, working as merchants, which means they were traders.
In 1321, al-Sahili left Granada. He began a long journey across the Middle East. His travels took him to many places, including Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Meeting Mansa Musa
In 1346, during his travels, al-Sahili met Mansa Musa. Mansa Musa was the powerful emperor of the Mali Empire. Mansa Musa was very impressed by al-Sahili's poetry. He liked it so much that he invited al-Sahili to come back with him to Mali.
Building in Mali
Al-Sahili accepted Mansa Musa's invitation. He became a very important architect in Mali. In 1327, he built a special audience chamber for Mansa Musa. This building is also known as the Djingereyber or Great Mosque of Timbuktu.
The Djingereyber Mosque
The Djingereyber Mosque was a square building with a dome on top. Its outside was decorated with plaster and colorful patterns. The mosque was built using a special material called banco. Banco is a mix of soil, wood, dried grass, and other plant fibers. This mix is allowed to dry in the sun, making it very strong.
The mosque's design was similar to the Alhambra palace in Granada, al-Sahili's hometown. This showed how his Spanish background influenced his work in Africa.
New Architectural Styles
After building the mosque, Mansa Musa asked al-Sahili to build a house for him. Sadly, this building was destroyed over time. However, al-Sahili brought a new style of building to Timbuktu. He started using rounded arches in his designs. This new style became very popular in the city.
Al-Sahili continued his work in Timbuktu. He died there in 1346. His contributions helped shape the unique architecture of the Mali Empire.
See also
In Spanish: Abu Isaq Es Saheli para niños
