Writing on the history of this heritage site ‘Old Towns of Djnne, Unesco begins its description with its first line, ‘inhabited since 250 B.C…’; and further when this description finds it ‘as one of the centres for the propagation of Islam..’, the history of this ancient site shrinks that ‘explores its geographical situation with trans Saharan gold-route’. The survived traditional ‘houses’ on the hillocks are known as toquere. It is also the local name for the hillock itself.
‘Djenné, chief town of the Djenné Circle, located on the south-west of Mopti (the regional capital), and on the north-east of Bamako (the national capital), identifies itself with the biblical ‘Zion’, and ‘Jina’ of Indian puranas, and Buddhist literature. Some scholars, put it like ‘Gina’, and others writes it as Jinn. It is not at all different in the meaning of the biblical ‘John’. It pinpoints the ‘Great Teacher of Profound Wisdom’, the Buddha of our times also called Goutama.
According to Unesco, ‘the cultural property of the “Old Towns of Djenné” is a serial property comprising four archaeological sites, namely Djenné-Djeno, Hambarkétolo, Kaniana and Tonomba’ ; these four sites marks name of the Buddha; Hamba-ketola as Kapilavastu; Kaniana as Kanva or Chann, identifying Sage Kanva and also Buddha’ s Charioteer respectively; Tonombo is as same as Goutama. The ancient identity of these four places confirm their historical relationship with the Buddha when mention is being made on their geographical identity linked with ‘Niger’ Delta; and the latter is as same as Nagar that has its root in Negev or Naga, means the ‘Serpent’. The ancient ‘Gold-route’ is as same as the Silk Route or the ‘Vyaghra-patha’ or the Tiger’s Path passing through the plain of the river Tigris or the river Bagha in the ‘south’ or through the region of the ‘Nagas’ or the ‘Serpent’ Plain of the Quran. Kapilavastu was on this Tiger’s Path or the Silk Route.
While Mali identifies itself with the ancient river Malini, the western tributary of the river Saraju whose sources was in the Lake Manasseh, Bible’s Sajur Valley marks the river Saraju of the Ramayana. River Malini was flowing between the countries called Prelamba on the west, and Aprantaka on the east. and it fell into the Ghagra or Gharaghara Lake of Champa same as Kamboj. Hermitage of Sage Kanva was on the bank of this river Malini. Frank tribe which marks the people of Africanus of Ptolemy, were living on the eastern bank of this river. Modern Africa’ finds its root with the name of this ancient frank tribe.
The most astounding historical universal value of this site is hidden in the name of ‘toquere’ .that pinpoints ‘Takka’ or the ‘Land of Stone’ or the Stone at Takkshasila, seat of learning in the ancient world. ‘Sila’ means ‘stone’.