The article says a Tuareg woman of the Aghlal tribe financed the original mosque. It places the founding in the 14th or early 15th century, and a quoted UNESCO source says the first half of the 15th century. One reference title cites about 1100, which conflicts. The article names no architect.
Between 1578 and 1582 the Chief Qadi of Timbuktu, Al-Aqib ibn Mahmud ibn Umar, demolished the sanctuary and rebuilt it. The courtyard was rebuilt to match the dimensions of the Kaaba in Mecca, entirely of clay and wood beams. The style is Sudano-Sahelian. The article rejects the claim that the Andalusian al-Sahili designed it, and calls the building smaller than the Great Mosque of Djenné.
It has suffered flood damage and a lack of restoration. Government-funded committees work with the World Heritage Centre on plans for a 500-foot buffer zone. The article states no ownership or visiting details.
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