On
Special Assignment this week:
Episode Title: Gift To Timbuktu
Date: Tuesday, 17 January 2009
Time: 21h30
Channel: SABC 3
Tonight Special Assignment looks at the story of co-operation between two African countries in a bid to preserve the continent's ancient treasures.
Last month, South African president Kgalema Monthlante, former president Thabo Mbeki and a high-powered government delegation visited the ancient malian city of Timbuktu.
The visit was the culmination of a six-year work in progress by the South Africa-Mali Project, an initiative to preserve the ancient manuscripts of Timbuktu.
The project, which drew together bodies like the South African National archives and the South African National Library - was aimed at restoration and preservation of some 20 000 ancient manuscripts, authored as far back as the 13th century, when Timbuktu was a renowned centre of learning and scholarship in West Africa.
The manuscripts, which contain writings related to Islamic law, history, biology and medicine are to many historians a debunk of the myth that the continent has no written history - and was 'the dark continent' compared to Europe during the same period.
The presidency, together with private donors, raised over R60 million to fund the building of a centre to house the manuscripts, under the auspices of the Ahmed Baba Institute. Monthlante and Mbeki's visit last month was to inaugurate the new facility.
Special Assignment broadcasts the story of the manuscripts and also airs part of a Special Assignment documentary made last year entitled From Here To Timbuktu, which outlines the history of the project.
Gift To Timbuktu is produced by Busisiwe Ntuli.
From Here To Timbuktu was produced by Jacques Pauw.
Special Assignment is on SABC3 on Tuesdays at 21h30.