This man is an absolute hero. Timbuktu was the cultural capital of west Afrika during the middle ages and housed many scholars and writers.
Its similar to a “library of Alexandria” type of collection of knowledge. Only that the manuscripts were spread over many families instead of a single location.
In 2012 during malis civil war, Al-Qaeda captured Timbuktu and started burning manuscripts. Dr. Haidara as curator of one of Timbuktus most important libraries organised the evacuation of the manuscripts by distributing then to civilians who would smuggle them out disguised as personal belongings.
Many of them did (and still do) lack copies or scans, or translations. Each one saved is a priceless treasure; each one lost is irreplaceable. Man gave to future generations an incredible inheritance by his efforts.
This man is an absolute hero. Timbuktu was the cultural capital of west Afrika during the middle ages and housed many scholars and writers.
Its similar to a “library of Alexandria” type of collection of knowledge. Only that the manuscripts were spread over many families instead of a single location.
In 2012 during malis civil war, Al-Qaeda captured Timbuktu and started burning manuscripts. Dr. Haidara as curator of one of Timbuktus most important libraries organised the evacuation of the manuscripts by distributing then to civilians who would smuggle them out disguised as personal belongings.
4200 books burned.
350000 saved!
Many of them did (and still do) lack copies or scans, or translations. Each one saved is a priceless treasure; each one lost is irreplaceable. Man gave to future generations an incredible inheritance by his efforts.