Harmony in Mud: Djenne’s Spectacular Crepissage Festival

Nestled along the serene banks of the Bani and Niger rivers in Mali lies the ancient town of Djenne, a timeless testament to the rich tapestry of African history and Islamic heritage. Steeped in tradition and architectural splendor, Djenne beckons travelers from far and wide to witness the annual spectacle that is the Crepissage festival.

Dating back to 250 BC, Djenne stands as one of sub-Saharan Africa’s oldest towns, a vital hub in the trans-Saharan gold trade and a twin city to the famed Timbuktu. But it’s not just its historical significance that draws attention; it’s the vibrant celebration of faith and community that unfolds each spring

Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali, 1907 (photo:

At the heart of this celebration stands the Great Mosque of Djenne, a marvel of Sudano-Sahelian architecture and the largest earthen mud structure in the world. As the sun rises on the day of Crepissage, the entire population of Djenne unites in a remarkable display of communal spirit to re-plaster the mosque’s walls, a tradition that has endured for centuries.

Mud plastering of the mosque walls in progress [

The Crepissage is more than just a restoration project; it’s a symbol of Djenne’s unwavering commitment to preserving its cultural identity. As the residents meticulously apply layers of adobe plaster to the mosque’s exterior, they weave together the threads of history, faith, and community, creating a tapestry of resilience and unity.

Image credits BBC (Paul de Roos)

But the festivities don’t end with the Crepissage. On the eve of the main event, Djenne comes alive with La Nuit de Veille, also known as ‘The Waking Night’, a spirited carnival where the streets pulse with music and dance until the early hours of the morning. It’s a joyous prelude to the solemn yet celebratory atmosphere of the following day.

As the sun sets on Djenne and the echoes of the day’s festivities fade into the night, one thing becomes clear: the Crepissage festival is more than just a tradition; it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of a town bound together by history, faith, and a profound sense of community.

So, if you ever find yourself wandering the dusty streets of Djenne, be sure to time your visit to coincide with the Crepissage festival. For in the heart of this ancient town, amidst the towering minarets and clay houses, you’ll discover a celebration unlike any other – a celebration of heritage, unity, and the enduring power of human connection.

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ROSS J. WOLFE, JD/MBA

 

Ross J. Wolfe served for over 20 years as Counsel to venture capital and private equity firms and has navigated new venture clients from startup to scalability. A seasoned professional in leading change across all aspects of an organization, he brings expertise in investor relations, company constitutions, equity class creation, onshore / offshore fund administration, company governance, company structure, and international mergers & acquisitions. Wolfe will oversee and optimize the formulation of the international corporate structure to support capital flows through portfolio development in the coming years. A best-selling author, Wolfe holds a Law degree from Barry University School of Law, an MBA from the University of Miami, and a BA in Political Science from George Mason University. Ross was recently appointed Chief of Corporate Ventures for The Amani group.

M. Gabriela Palacios, Esq.

 

Gabriela Palacios is a seasoned Attorney who practices corporate and contract law and has served as General Counsel to companies throughout South Florida. With extensive knowledge on Hotel Law, as GC for Amani Resorts, Palacios focuses on establishing the compliance protocols and corporate policies to support accelerated scaling of our resort footprint. Most recently, Gabriela was appointed General Counsel for the Amani Group.

Ali Shan Aslam

 

Ali Shan is a seasoned Chartered Accountant with a decade of experience. As a  former KPMG Auditor, Aslam then served as VP & Head of Business Analytics &  Strategy at a prominent commercial bank. As a Fractional CFO, he guided a variety of C-suites through critical financial decisions. For Amani Resorts, he formulates and oversees a comprehensive financial operation designed to support cash flows across multiple international jurisdictions in the coming years.  Most recently, he was appointed CFO of the Amani group.

Felix J. Torres

 

Felix Torres is a leader with international experience in logistics, security, technology, architecture, engineering design and construction and project management.  His career begins with his undergraduate studies at Northeastern University.  After studying Industrial Engineering with a concentration in Project Management, he took first a position as Project Manager/Reliability Engineer at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Rhode Island, and then, rising to their Program Executive Office on the strength of his outstanding performance, as Production Manager/Project Manager.  Holding secret security clearance at the Center, he led a team focused on the design, construction and delivery of Navy weapon systems (torpedoes).

In 1997, Mr. Torres obtained an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business with a concentration in Finance, and then led Business Development for Cellular One or Puerto Rico designing and implementing telecommunications solutions for clients, while leading a special team to implement the Competitive Local Exchange Carrier Program to build the landline business for the market leader in Puerto Rico.

In 1999, Torres began a 10-year body of work for Univision. As Project Manager, Construction Manager, and Facility Manager, he led the strategic planning, design, construction, and operations of television and radio studios for a Univision PPP.

In 2011, EVO Consortium was formed.  As founder and CEO, he dedicated his new company to strategic planning, construction management, and construction for venues and highly sophisticated technology infrastructure engagements that impact national security and operational efficiency.  He managed new public and private sector building projects and created alliances with governments and major technology companies.  EVO Consortium is the development arm of Rapiscan/AS&E and S2 Global, who are leaders in the industry of Vehicle and Merchandise Scanning Security Services.

Over the last decade, Torres’ clients and projects span the globe.  For the Puerto Rico Convention Center District, he was the Project Manager for four different government administrations wherein he developed a major convention center that included hotels, office buildings, commercial venues, residences, parks, and many other amenities, with an investment over $450 million.   For the World Trade Center, he led the implementation of the underground inspection sites, designed multiple venues for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Project, assisted the Government of Iraq with city-crossing security inspection, and designed and construction managed 40 inspection sites in Mexico’s main maritime ports and land border crossings while handling highly classified information.  He also designed and managed the construction of inspection sites in Albania’s main maritime port and land border crossing under European construction codes.

With deep experience with major construction in Asia, Europe, Middle East, and The Americas, he has taken on the role of EVP of Real Estate Project Development worldwide.  He is based in Florida with his wife and two children.

JUAN J. LOYOLA

 

Juan Loyola brings extensive international project development and finance experience in hospitality/mixed-use development as well as energy.  He completed his undergraduate studies at Hotel Institute Montreux in 1992, and at the age of 20, was hired by Hilton International into a departmental management role.  His management background includes hotels such as Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and independent resorts.

In the early nineties before online degrees were common, he completed graduate studies through distance learning in Economics at SOAS University of London, an experience that gave rise to an intellectual fascination with Applied Economics which persists to this day.  Loyola briefly worked as a general securities representative (series 7) before moving to Austin, Texas to complete his MBA at McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin.  Following his studies, his focus shifted from management to development after 2 years with Enron’s international development arm based in the Caribbean.

Over the next 9 years, based at different times in Puerto Rico, Florida, California, and Texas, he would apply his development expertise to the hotel industry as well, become an executive for a hospitality company, and directing energy programs for global industrial clients for a Washington, D.C.-based energy consulting firm.

He speaks four languages, is a competitive tennis player, a published singer-songwriter, and today lives in San Antonio, Texas with his wife and their four children.

Fluent in both French and English, and able to converse in Lingala and Spanish, Henri Ndele combines this broad international development and finance experience with a deep understanding of client requirements and the need for a holistic approach to creating value in multiple verticals. In this, Ndele is a proven leader and communicator. Most recently, Henri was appointed EVP Capital Formation of the Amani Resorts, Inc.

Henri Ndele

 

Mr. Ndele has an international background across Europe, the United States and Africa. His extensive and active network is based on over twenty years of financial and legal advisory, with experience in financial markets, startup business development, media promotion and real estate development.Ndele studied Political Sciences at the University of Geneva and Law in Louvain University, before completing his MBA at Cape Town University’s Graduate School of Business.

In 1994, Ndele joined True Africa Media Group as their Sales & Marketing executive in Paris where he spearheaded their marketing and communications strategy and brought on board major luxury brands. Returning to Switzerland and shifting to international finance, he joined Gottex Portfolio Management in Lausanne as Senior Financial Analyst focused on hedge fund equity and the derivatives portfolio management.

Ndele then returned to True Africa Media Group and crossed the Atlantic in 2002 to become Head of Business Development out of New York City.  Here, he negotiated Goldman Sach’s investment into his True Africa Media, oversaw the transition from Groupe Lagardere MCM Afrique to Trace TV, and opened Trace TV’s distribution network to the African market.

Since 2004, Ndele became Managing Partner of Pallas Consulting, located across the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Here he has overseen finance deals, provided strategic consulting in debt/equity fund raising, provided legal and financial advisory.

Fluent in both French and English, and able to converse in Lingala and Spanish, Henri Ndele combines this broad international development and finance experience with a deep understanding of client requirements and the need for a holistic approach to creating value in multiple verticals. In this, Ndele is a proven leader and communicator. Most recently, Henri was appointed EVP Capital Formation of the Amani Resorts, Inc.