The Bandiagara Escarpment (Arabic: منحدرات باندياغارا الصخرية, French: falaise de Bandiagara) is a sandstone cliff located in the Dogon region of Mali. It rises about 500 meters (1,600 feet) above the flat, sandy areas to the south and is approximately 150 kilometers (90 miles) long.
Today, the area is home to the Dogon people. Before the Dogon, the Tellem and Toloy peoples lived there. Many buildings from the Tellem people still exist. The Bandiagara Escarpment was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1989.
The Cliffs of Bandiagara form a sandstone range stretching over 200 kilometers (120 miles) from south to northeast, extending to the Grandamia massif. The end of the massif is marked by the Hombori Tondo, Mali’s highest peak, which stands 1,155 meters (3,789 feet) tall. Because of its archaeological, cultural, and geological features, the entire area is a place of interest.
History
The Tellem people, an ethnic group who lived in caves on the slopes of the cliff, were later moved out by the arrival of the Dogons. The Tellem left behind a lasting mark in the form of caves they carved into the cliffs to bury their dead high above the ground, away from dangerous flash floods in the area.
Many villages are found along the cliff, including Kani Bonzon. The Dogons arrived near this village in the 14th century and then spread across the plateau, escarpment, and plains of the Seno-Gondo.
According to local stories, the Dogon were not troubled by French colonists because of natural tunnels that ran through the Bandiagara Escarpment. Only the Dogon knew about the tunnels and used them to attack and drive away enemies.
The Bandiagara Escarpment today
Today, local guides lead tourist groups along the escarpment to visit Dogon villages. A series of trails runs along the cliffs, and hostels in each village provide food and lodging. The villages earn money from hostels and a tourist tax. More tourists are expected because a new highway is being built, which may harm local traditions. In addition, The Independent reports that looting of ancient artifacts is common in the area, which has weak law enforcement.
To address the problem of too many tourists, the World Monuments Fund added the Bandiagara Escarpment to its 2004 list of important sites needing protection. In 2005, the fund gave money from American Express to the Mission Culturelle de Bandiagara to create a management plan. This plan includes protecting traditional buildings and setting strict rules for new construction, similar to those in historic areas worldwide.
After the 2012 war in Mali, parts of the country, including the Dogon Plateau and Bandiagara Escarpment, became more dangerous. Terrorist groups are active in the area, and daily violence occurs between local ethnic groups.
As of 2018, it is not safe to visit this area for tourism. Malian security forces may stop people who try to travel there. In March 2018, an armed group attacked a hotel in Bandiagara that was used by UN staff, killing several people.