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.
This man’s job is pondering
Seriously though, amazing work to save these books. The pondering is well deserved.
For one very brief moment, I thought it was Counter Strike lol
Ancient manuscripts preserved from Islamist guerillas
COUNTER-TERRORISTS WIN
I wonder what resources are available to digitize the collection.
Genuinely one of the few ways I think Blockchain tech could be used productively, since those records are extremely hard for hostile actors to alter or damage once committed into the log. It basically becomes a permanent copy so long as the nodes are maintained.
Might not be as “authentic” but while the books have value as artefacts, the words are what take priority for preservation above all else.
so sad to see the present day violence in rich, ancient cities. wishing the best for mali and timbucktu 🙏🙏
