Desert Sands Threaten Mauritania's Ancient Library City, One Man Fights Back

Saif Islam, now in his sixties, has been the custodian of the family library Al Ahmed Mahmoud in Chinguetti, a tiny desert settlement nestled in the Sahara in Mauritania, for decades. He has been tirelessly working to preserve the city's rich history and cultural heritage, which is threatened by the encroaching desert sands and dwindling tourism due to conflict in neighboring Mali. Islam's dedication to preserving the library's vast collection of ancient manuscripts and books is a testament to the importance of Chinguetti, known as the city of libraries. The settlement was once a vital stop for travelers and grew into a hub for libraries preserving religious and scientific manuscripts. Islam pointed to a 10th-century Quran, its pages brown with age, saying, "Its these books that gave it this history, this importance. Without these old dusty books, Chinguetti would have been forgotten like any other abandoned town." The city's unique history and cultural significance are a result of its strategic location, which made it an essential stop for traders and scholars traveling between North Africa and the Middle East. Chinguetti's libraries played a crucial role in preserving and disseminating knowledge, particularly in the fields of Islamic studies and astronomy. The city's manuscripts and books are not only valuable for their historical significance but also for the insights they provide into the intellectual and cultural achievements of the region. Islam's efforts to preserve the library and its collection are not only a personal endeavor but also a reflection of the community's commitment to preserving its cultural heritage. The library has been a hub for local scholars and researchers, who come to study and learn from the ancient manuscripts. However, the library's future is uncertain, as the encroaching desert sands and dwindling tourism threaten to erase the city's history and cultural significance. Despite the challenges, Islam remains optimistic about the library's future. He has been working with local authorities and international organizations to develop a plan to preserve the library and its collection. The plan includes digitizing the manuscripts and books, as well as creating a museum to showcase the city's cultural heritage. Islam hopes that the plan will not only preserve the library's collection but also attract tourists and scholars to the city, thereby reviving its economy and cultural significance. The situation in Chinguetti highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the role that libraries and museums play in preserving knowledge and promoting cultural understanding. As the desert sands continue to encroach on the city, Islam's efforts to preserve the library and its collection serve as a reminder of the importance of preserving our cultural heritage for future generations.