This inland republic, which is the seventh largest country in Africa, lies in the Sahel area in the north-western part of Africa at the edge of Sahara. Mali shares boarders with Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast on the south, Senegal and Mauritania on the west and finally Guinea on the south-west.

Although Mali is inhabited since the stone age, its name is derived from Muslim Empire of Malinké and Mandings that prospered in the 13th and 14th century. Although Mali belongs between the poorest countries in the world, its droughty land vibrates with very colored life.

Cities evoke fairy anthill in the labyrinth of clay houses, streets or bridges. About 80 % of the whole 12 million inhabitants work in the agriculture which forms the fundamental part of the economy. Mali was quite autarchic until the area of Sahel was affected by terrible drought several times. There is almost only desert in the north and a bit of fertile soil.

The Dogons

The Dogon People, calling themselves the Lords of the desert, living in the south near the borders with Burkina Faso are immensely enigmatic people. Very interesting are their Dogon Voodoo masks that are enchanted by shamans who give them necessary power and energy. African black magic has in the south Mali very big power. Dogons live in the Bandiagara cliff which is bored through by caves. Right inside is most probably hidden the secret of Dogons that fascinates the scientists all over the world. The legend says that Dogons come from another planet, which would explain the astronomical knowledge of their leaders. But the secret will remain sheltered until the Dogons let the foreigners into their cliff, which will not ever happen.

Clay town Timbuktu

“Pearl of the Desert” drown deep in the Sahara desert used to be the gate into the black Africa. Today is cut of the civilization. The origins of Timbuktu aren’t commonly known. Timbuktu belong between the Seven New World Wonders. None of the African cities was veiled with so many mysteries as Timbuktu. Most inhabitants are Tuaregs. Very amazing is the mosque Djiguerber which is unfortunately inapproachable.