The Tomb of Askia is one of the most important historical and cultural monuments in Mali, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004. Located in Gao, the former capital of the Songhai Empire, it embodies both the memory of Africa’s great rulers and the enduring presence of Islam in the Sahel region.

The monument takes its name from Askia Mohamed, the sovereign who brought the Songhai Empire to its peak in the 15th century by establishing a centralized political system and overseeing vast territorial expansion. It was he who ordered the construction of the tomb in 1495, upon his return from the pilgrimage to Mecca, as a way to mark the grandeur of his reign and to affirm his deep commitment to the Muslim faith.

Built in sun-dried mud using the traditional banco technique, the tomb stands out for its imposing stepped pyramidal shape. This architectural style, typical of Sudano-Sahelian construction, blends practicality with symbolism. Rising more than 17 meters high, the structure towers over the city and remains a major landmark. The site is complemented by an adjoining mosque and a series of ancillary buildings that once served as centers of religious teaching and as accommodations for pilgrims. More than just a funerary monument, it also functioned as a spiritual and political hub, tied to both authority and the spread of Islam in the region.

Over the centuries, the Tomb of Askia has retained its role as a place of memory and worship. Entire generations have preserved the tradition of ritual replastering, covering its walls periodically with banco to reinforce the structure. This collective act symbolizes not only the transmission of ancestral know-how but also the importance of community in safeguarding heritage. Despite the threats of time, climate change, and recent conflicts in Mali, the edifice endures as a key witness to the cultural richness of the Sahel.

Today, the Tomb of Askia represents much more than an architectural relic. It stands as a symbol of the power and sophistication of the Songhai Empire, a living testament to the fusion between African traditions and Islam, and a strong marker of identity for the Malian people. In reflecting on it, one not only recalls the grandeur of an imperial past but also recognizes the need to protect and promote a fragile universal heritage that tells the story of Africa far beyond its borders.