2009 SAPOA Merit Award - International Development Category

2007 Architecture South Africa Project Award – Outstanding Design in Architecture Category

Mali’s Timbuktu was a thriving university city for over a thousand years. Historically a seat of Islamic learning, the town had come to house many priceless Islamic texts and books. Written in almost forgotten languages and dialects of North Africa, these priceless but decaying collections were being stored in private homes throughout the city. The Ahmed Baba centre was established to restore this scattered collection.
As a result of a visit by then South African President Thabo Mbeki, and his concern for this African heritage, a presidential project was established as a gift from the people of South Africa to the people of Mali.