Book SummaryThe Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu, by Joshua Hammer

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu

The Timbuktu manuscripts hold significant value in terms of culture and history.

Hammer emphasizes the importance of Timbuktu as a center for Islamic learning at the height of its intellectual prosperity. He underscores the importance of these ancient manuscripts in challenging the prevalent misunderstandings that diminish Africa's historical and cultural achievements in Western perspectives.

During its period of scholarly flourishing, Timbuktu generated an abundance of academic writings.

Timbuktu gained fame for being a center of manuscript creation and accumulation, and it also housed an esteemed university alongside numerous scholars who made substantial contributions to fields such as law, astronomy, and poetry.

Hammer's story transports readers back to the 16th century, showcasing how Timbuktu flourished as a vibrant center for scholarly pursuits. He portrayed the city as a bustling hub of trade and scholarship, where markets overflowed with diverse goods from across the globe. Learners from various parts of the Islamic realm were attracted to Timbuktu for the chance to engage in scholarly pursuits with the distinguished scholars at the University of Sankoré, an institution that included a series of mosques and living quarters. Driven by an insatiable desire for learning and a deep dedication to scholarly research, these academics amassed a substantial compilation of documents.

Hammer elaborates on the wide-ranging content of the documents, encompassing sacred Islamic texts such as the Quran and Hadiths, as well as secular subjects like astronomy, mathematics, medicine, poetry, and surprisingly frank conversations about human sexuality in the work "Advising Men on Sexual Engagement with Their Women." He highlights the diverse scholarly atmosphere in Timbuktu, characterized by the integration of local dialects, Greek philosophical ideas, and Sudanese proverbs with traditional Islamic education. Joshua Hammer counters the Eurocentric perspective by portraying Timbuktu as a vibrant hub of varied academic discourse and cultural amalgamation, thereby disputing the idea that Africa is devoid of profound historical narratives and scholarly achievements.

Context

• Wealthy patrons, including rulers and merchants, often funded the creation and copying of manuscripts, supporting the scholarly community and ensuring the proliferation of knowledge.
• The scholars in Timbuktu were heavily influenced by Islamic scholarship, which encouraged the pursuit of knowledge and the integration of various fields of study, including philosophy and science.
• The city was a key trading post for goods such as gold, salt, ivory, and slaves, which were exchanged between African, Arab, and European traders, contributing to its wealth and cosmopolitan nature.
• The manuscripts were often copied by hand, a labor-intensive process that required skilled scribes. This helped preserve knowledge through generations, especially in an era before the printing press was widely available in the region.
• The inclusion of secular subjects and discussions on human sexuality indicates a broad intellectual curiosity and a willingness to explore various aspects of human knowledge beyond religious studies.
• The inclusion of Sudanese proverbs reflects the interconnectedness of African cultures and the oral tradition's role in conveying wisdom and societal values, which were then incorporated into the broader educational framework.
• This institution was one of the earliest universities in the world, comparable to other medieval centers of learning like Al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco and Al-Azhar in Egypt. It attracted students from across the Islamic world.
• This refers to a worldview that centers on Western civilization and often downplays or ignores the contributions and histories of non-European cultures. It has historically led to the marginalization of African achievements in global narratives.

The city was renowned as a hub for Islamic learning and intellectual inquiry, highlighted by the meticulously designed manuscripts featuring detailed illuminations and refined calligraphy.

Hammer explores the intricate craftsmanship and expert techniques essential in the creation of these historical documents. He leads the readers on an engaging journey, describing the unique features and beginnings of different calligraphic styles – Hausa, Kufic, and the especially revered Maghrebi. He describes the process of creating ink, noting that yellow hues were derived from orpiment, crimson from cinnabar, and vivid colors came from the cochineal insect. The manuscripts were frequently embellished with ornate gold decorations, highlighting their opulence and the great value placed upon them.

In his portrayal, Hammer emphasizes the...

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu Summary Abdel Kader Haidara devoted his professional life to safeguarding and maintaining ancient texts.

Abdel Kader Haidara is depicted by Joshua Hammer as the central figure leading the modern effort to protect and rejuvenate Timbuktu's historic manuscripts. Haidara's deep commitment to the manuscripts was matched by his unwavering determination to protect the intellectual legacy of Timbuktu.

Haidara's lineage and intimate connections were intricately linked with the legacy of the ancient manuscripts originating in Timbuktu.

In his early years, Haidara embraced the duty of safeguarding an extensive collection of manuscripts, a legacy from his father, who was a distinguished scholar in the Muslim community.

The author describes how Haidara came to inherit a deep connection to the manuscripts of Timbuktu, a heritage that his father, the esteemed Islamic scholar Mohammed "Mamma" Haidara, had cultivated as a collector of such documents. Mamma Haidara instilled in his son a fervent dedication to learning along with profound respect for the ancient manuscripts' historical importance.

Mamma Haidara's existence was characterized by unwavering commitment to scholarly pursuits and an enthusiasm for discovery. He amassed a considerable assortment of manuscripts on his journeys...

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu Summary In Mali, the threat posed by militant jihadists culminated in their seizure of Timbuktu.

Hammer establishes the backdrop by detailing the conflict with jihadist rebels within Mali, which frames the narrative for the endeavor to safeguard the manuscripts. He portrays the rise of extremist groups like Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) as a substantial threat to the treasured and learned traditions of Timbuktu, highlighting their contempt for the city's diverse and cosmopolitan cultural legacy.

Extremist groups like Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Ansar Dine started to wield significant influence in the northern part of Mali.

The growing influence and reach of AQIM, along with its alliances with local Tuareg rebels

Hammer portrays the rise and intensification of a deadly and wealthy group that developed from the remnants of Algerian rebels, referred to as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

He documents the escalation of conflict in the early 2000s, marked by kidnappings, explosive attacks, and the establishment of connections with radical groups such as Boko Haram. AQIM sought to establish a governance based on Islamic tenets and utilized the vast, ungoverned expanses of the Sahara to solidify their presence in northern Mali, while working alongside...

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu Summary The effort entailed securing the manuscripts in a safe place during the occupation.

In his book, Hammer recounts the extraordinary steps Haidara employed to protect Timbuktu's manuscripts from the clutches of extremist combatants. He portrays Haidara’s actions as a courageous and logistically daunting operation, undertaken amidst great personal risk and with limited resources.

Haidara masterminded a clandestine operation to move the manuscripts to places where they would be safe.

Haidara masterminded a covert mission, utilizing a team of volunteers who frequently worked under the cover of darkness, to transport the manuscripts away from Timbuktu.

The author describes Haidara's ingenious plan to discreetly move Timbuktu's manuscripts to a secure place. Haidara, cognizant of the impending threat posed by jihadists, discreetly arranged for the manuscripts to be moved to a number of safe places throughout the city.

He describes the detailed strategy that included obtaining financial support, and sourcing thousands of metal containers to safeguard the valuable manuscripts. Haidara assembled a dedicated team that included librarians, archivists, relatives, and his nephew Mohammed Touré, who collectively braved substantial risks to execute this perilous...

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu Summary The endeavor to protect the ancient texts carried significant consequences.

Hammer explores the wider consequences that go far beyond the initial narrative of protecting these ancient texts, scrutinizing the extensive impact of the endeavor to safeguard these writings. The manuscripts, he argued, are not simply old writings; they encapsulate the deep heritage and scholarly essence of a sophisticated African Islamic civilization, challenging conventional Western perspectives and deepening our understanding of the historical development within Islam.

The manuscripts are a testament to the deep-seated heritage of erudition and cultural significance associated with Timbuktu.

The documents played a significant role in rectifying Western misunderstandings about Africa's rich historical and cultural legacy.

Hammer emphasizes the importance of these ancient manuscripts in challenging the often-neglected acknowledgment of African heritage's contributions to world culture by Western viewpoints. The existence of these ancient texts, which reveal a long-standing tradition of scholarship in Timbuktu, sharply contradicts the claims of philosophers like Hume, Kant, and Hegel, who argued that Africans were naturally inferior and employed such prejudices to...