Playlist
Journey into the unknown | Episode 1
Around three years ago, insurgents attacked the north of the West African state of Mali and conquered the oasis city of Timbuktu. During the armed conflict, not only were several world-famous mausoleums destroyed, but a library containing many centuries-old manuscripts was also set on fire. In a secret and improvised rescue operation, thousands of manuscripts were transferred to the capital Bamako in crates of clothes. Employees of the “Center for the Study of Manuscript Cultures” at the University of Hamburg are now trying to examine and preserve the manuscripts.
First Aid | Episode 2
Almost 1000 kilometers separate Timbuktu from the capital Bamako in the West African country of Mali. This enormous distance encompasses two climate zones: In the oasis city of Timbuktu, where the manuscripts were originally stored, the air is extremely dry and hot. In Bamako, on the other hand, there is extremely high humidity due to the rainy season, from which the manuscripts must be protected. Proper storage and optimal climate control of the manuscripts is the top priority above all else.
Knowledge transfer | Episode 3
Many of the rescued manuscripts from Timbuktu are damaged, soiled and often entire pages have been destroyed by termites. After initial cleaning, the documents are properly conserved and stored in specially made boxes. Particular importance is attached to training local staff in conservation techniques. Once the documents have been restored and conserved, the scientific task is to digitize each individual page and to identify and decipher the texts.
The memory of Africa | Episode 4
Dr. Abdel Kader Haïdara is preparing a small exhibition in his archive for Luxembourg’s development aid minister to draw attention to the most pressing problems with the rescued and temporarily stored manuscripts. The conservation and restoration of 285,000 poetic texts, sermons and historical, astronomical tables and calculations written on the finest goatskin requires broad-based international cooperation from many sponsors and supporters.
Future prospects | Episode 5
Only through proper restoration, by piecing together the smallest fragments of text and stabilizing the wafer-thin pages made of goatskin or camel skin, can a subsequent scientific analysis of the manuscripts be made possible. The restorer Eva Brozowsky from the University of Hamburg, who has traveled here for this purpose, receives valuable support from local conservators, but also trains other local staff.
Berlin Conference | Episode 6
At the international strategy meeting at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, all cooperation partners involved in the rescue measures for the manuscripts in Timbuktu will come together to discuss the next steps. At the end of the meeting, the international aid measures are to be coordinated in such a way that the historical manuscripts can be properly conserved and restored as quickly as possible. All international cooperation partners agree on one point: the cultural heritage must be protected and made accessible.
General Interview with Dr. Abdel Kader Haïdara | Episode 7
In the general interview, academic project manager Dr. Abdel Kader Haïdara reports on how he organized and experienced the rescue operation for the manuscripts. He is now focusing on the restoration and conservation of the medieval manuscripts.
Sauvegarde des Manuscrits de Tombouctou | Episode 8
The project on the manuscripts of Tombouctou has as its main objective the preservation of this manuscript heritage of international importance. The manuscripts were relocated from Tombouctou to Bamako to protect them from destruction during the attacks that took place in northern Mali in 2012. Since then, the major challenge has been to protect, conserve and open them up to research. A team of specialists is working with local staff on these very important tasks. Le projet est géré par l’Université de Hambourg – Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures, en coopération avec les institutions maliennes, et financé par le Ministère Fédéral des Affaires Etrangères de l’Allemagne, la Fondation Gerda Henkel et la Fondation Jutta Vogel.
Timbuktu Manuscripts | Episode 9
On November 1, 2015, the European cultural magazine “Metropolis” on the television channel ARTE reported on the manuscripts from Timbuktu, which were saved from destruction in an adventurous rescue operation. The film clip combines sequences from the L.I.S.A. video series with additional footage.
