Educational Media Reviews Online

Timbuktu has become synonymous in our language to any far away or remote place. Timbuktu is, in fact, on the Southern edge of the Sahara Desert and surrounded by sand dunes but the mythical image of Timbuktu as the embodiment of faraway places is supplanted by a more accurate image in the The Manuscripts of Timbuktu. Once a seasonal settlement, Timbuktu became an important crossroads for trade, and then an intellectual center founded by Muslims who brought religion and literacy to this ancient city in the 12th century.

The history of colonization, changing political environments, and literacy coming to all citizens of Timbuktu is followed by the story of a strong intellectual community and the establishment of universities which is told by several historians and illustrated by engaging cinematography and realistic reenactments. What about the manuscripts, you might ask? The manuscripts are shown throughout the film and serve as evidence of the intellectualism of the Timbuktu ancestors and as the treasurers of the current families. It is something of a miracle, and certainly a concern, that many of these treasured documents are stored in wooden boxes and on crude shelves in the homes of the families who inherited them. They are treasured family heirlooms but they are also fragile artifacts of African history. The Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Learning and Islamic Research is currently collecting, protecting and preserving the documents on microfilm so that everyone can have access to these beautiful and historic documents.

The film is in French and Arabic with English subtitles and the music and cinematography add to understanding of the region and the culture. There is also a scene selection option that would be useful for classroom showings. Overall, The Manuscripts of Timbuktu is recommended for all audiences but most appropriate for college and university libraries to support anthropology, history, Islamic studies and African studies departments. High school and public libraries would find it a worthwhile addition to their collections, as well. Many university professors in the U.S. recommend The Manuscripts of Timbuktu for the education of students, scholars and the general public. I do as well.

Awards

• Best Documentary Film, PAN African Film Festival
• Chosen as a feature film at the 2011 Silicon Valley African Film Festival