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Timbuktu, Mali

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Location

The Resume

    Founded in the 10th century AD
    Outpost linking West Africa with Arab and Berber traders from North Africa
    Popular metaphor for an exotic, distant place
    Population (2008): approximately 35,000

Why Timbuktu, Mali might be annoying:

    It went into decline after the Portuguese established trading posts on the West African coast.
    It went further into decline after being invaded by a Moroccan army (1591).
    Most of its buildings are made of mud.
    It was on a list of threatened UNESCO World Heritage Sites due to encroaching desert sands (1990-2005).
    In a British poll (2006), one third of respondents did not believe the city existed, while the remaining two thirds considered it a mythical place.

Why Timbuktu, Mali might not be annoying:

    During the reign of Mansa Musa, it was probably the richest city in Africa.
    Its Sankore University was called the Oxford of Africa.
    A West African Islamic proverb declared, 'Salt comes from the north, gold from the south, but the treasures of wisdom come from Timbuktu.'
    Its mud mosques inspired architect Antonio Gaudi.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 77.78% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 98 Votes: 59.18% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 27.27% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 24 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 40 Votes: 47.50% Annoying