Listen have. A vast expanse and home to people with centuries old traditions. Cutting. Power i love it i. Found out that. These days theres a hell region has also become known for radical islamists gaining political influence and for young people on the move in search of Better Futures elsewhere we travel to mali and the sheriff for this film. This is 10 book 2 in mali. The streets are once again filled with color and song. Celebrations music laughter and dancing have returned to this fabled and mysterious desert city. Back in 2012 things looked very different. In the summer of 2012 armed radical islamists seized control of cities in northern mali including timbuktu. In 2013 a fragile peace was restored to the city on the transparent caravan route and the un has station the blue helmet soldiers in mali since then. But fear insecurity economic problems and unemployment remain there are few prospects especially for younger mali. Over 5 years have passed since the occupation but to look to is still struggling to regain its identity. Alimi ali was born here 31 years ago he has spent almost his whole life here and knows nearly every building the only time he left timbuktu was during the occupation when he fled to the capital bamako ali used to work as a tour guide showing americans and europeans his hometown. He agreed to also lead us through the cultural oasis timbuktu. Crafters timbuktu is living together. He put on mix and then. How the kids are into moved to it is a different and different country in different areas because each other you can share editing together you can share food together you can share life to go to many things us you can share in and used to be. But to sit here and see life is. Its so different and thats why i love to. See that like country is kind of People Living here. All these older brother was also a tour guide and when ali was only 13 he started accompanying his brother while he worked thats how he learned english and Everything Else he needed for the job but ever since radical islamists attack the city foreigners have stayed away. Many craftsmen have shops here in town back to ali used to stop by them regularly with tourists. For more than 5 years now life sold practically nothing and there are no more tourists and only locals occasionally buy something. Tourism was once an important industry for 10 but 2 especially for young people like. It provided an opportunity for them to make a living here on the edge of the desert. People always bright even now you see people upright their privates was a comeback. Given that the 2 has come to morrow i think for the pleasure to look to are going to be very happy to head us news to see troops out of the city in the area because usually to move to the big song and its promise country from which we do it before nor had they ever win the war and they were in their situation theyre so happy even you guys dont hear people hoping to see you because been a long time to see why people. That used to be very different there was the famous annual festival of these there in mali for instance which was held twice on the outskirts of timbuktu tourists from all over the world came to see it. Do it. Youre. Doing. The business of it just. Going to thank the festival became part of shared memory and helped forge timbuktus image as a place where twa reggae music could be heard in breathtaking desert seen. Since the 2012 invasion however the festival has had to either be canceled or staged outside of tempted. But although the security situation in the city continues to deter tourists music on a smaller scale has returned performed by those pushing against the sorrow and the latent threat of islam estates. Among them the band booked to jazz they develop their jazz from the traditional music of timbuktu and sing in 3 of the regions languages. I mean music is everything to me. Ive been playing since i was a small child were going to say. Its through music that i met so many different people. I got to play and collaborate with. Them so its a big deal for me. When these lists where we were not allowed to play but they infiltrated us that somebody had to pack our guitars and equipment away. There was no music quickly here for. Now musicians from elsewhere are slowly starting to return to timbuktu to give concerts. A bit of a more intimate look too we think of music as knowledge and on 2 sides as messages were here to spread the message of music to people in this entire region. As they go there is conflict with the message were spreading without singing is for peace for social cohesion and for progress. Isnt it. When singer id isnt making music he repairs motorcycles and. He can only dream of making a living from his music in timbuktu. But since the jihad has ceded power the local economy has been stagnating real jobs remain scarce but as he continues to dream of a better tomorrow. I hope that someday people all over the world will know our music. The effects of the occupation can still be seen in timbuktu. It began in 2011 with the revolution in libya which flooded theres a hell region with weapons from gadhafi is arsenals. When in march 2012 a military coup distracted the Central Government in bhaumik. Rebels seized the opportunity and declared independence in the north which they called. But the movement was commandeered by the Islamist Group and sardine. And in june 2012 and sardined seized control of timbuktu. Its always peaceful our goal is a religion. We do not need to conquer anything. Condemns violence. Of jihad used to exterminate and throw out of the country those who oppose the spreading of business. In the synopsis our goal is not to kill people or shed blood the goal of jihad is to rid the country of those who oppose the sharia and the spreading of islam. With us and with. Many would not describe this as a peaceful way. For 10 months and sardine try to force the people of timbuktu to abandon their moderate and tolerant practice of islam and to impose their radical version. Women had to wear veils they were public floggings music and dance were forbidden. The girls didnt wear veils before the mujahideen came they said they didnt know that all women had to wear veils they orient themselves on the europeans watch their films the western media manipulate them even if you are from the press you know that the media Like Television and radio manipulate are constantly talking about the western world that is why our daughters and women our children want to lead a western lifestyle. If you will follow. The islamists did not only try to change ways of living and dressing they also destroyed tombs of sushi saints which they condemned as straw. Of idolatry the attacks on parts of timbuktus historical treasures were attacks on the worlds Cultural Heritage. Is one of timbuktu scholars he is overjoyed that unesco restored the mausoleums. During the restoration process the destruction of timbuktu was being deliberated by the International Criminal court right you know in the hague. In september 26th teen the court reached a historic ruling that for the 1st time equated the destruction of Cultural Heritage with a war crime the islamist leader. Was sentenced to 9 years in prison for intentionally directing attacks against religious and Historic Buildings in timbuktu it destroys part of humanitys shared memory and collective consciousness and renders humanity able to transmit its values and knowledge to future generations. Even timbuktus famous centuries old manuscripts were not safe during the occupation. Has written books about 10 book 2 and the document served as important sources the manuscripts are unique testimonies to the cultural history of west africa they were written in arabic and local languages between the 13th and early 20th centuries. The manuscript infinitely important for the people of a city. That very old. To do so timbuktu had the Largest University south of the sahara in the 15th and 16th centuries. For a university Minus Committee and the manuscript to cover almost all subject is doing all the g. Traditional medicine history geography physics chemistry and astronomy the last 2 were. During the islamist occupation a rescue operation that has since become legendary was started. In. Large sections of the manuscripts were reportedly hidden and brought to safety in metal boxes by librarians and other helpers. Going through that. When the islamists 1st came to timbuktu and they werent really interested in a manuscript pray. But later some of the less educated whites is who lived here in the library youll do it again to burn certain manuscripts key. Prandin live monthly. A lot of when the local people realized what was happening they did everything they could to save the manuscript. I live in moneys pretty. It remains unclear how many manuscripts were destroyed or stolen during the islamists. Some estimates say it could have been 4000 before the french and mali in armies were able to drive the islamists out of timbuktu. But thousands of manuscripts were hidden and even smuggled as far as the capital bamako including the collection belonging to the family of abdul qadeer hideout who has become known as the savior of the manuscripts. The mama collection is one of the most extensive and important in timbuktu and is said to contain about 42000 handwritten documents. Only. We packed the manuscripts in metal boxes to keep them safe before smuggling them out. And we started transporting them little by little. I rode in jeeps or in small boats. There are also new genre river. This would turn out to be just the beginning securing the manuscript has since become a mammoth task. Abdul qadeer has converted an entire house in the mali and capital also with financial help from germany. It is here that the manuscripts have been digitized catalogued and archived for several years now in order to secure them once and for all from mali and the world. Someone. We cant live without the manuscript. Off it everything we do has to do with them. When we talk about education or health when we talk about our intellectuals our history not everything we know about this comes from the manuscripts. There are reports that the scope and course of the manuscript rescue operation may have been exaggerated and embellished perhaps also to help raise funds. Whatever the truth is the smuggling story has revived the myth of timbuktu and the timbuktu manuscripts are undoubtedly an important Cultural Heritage. But the situation in the city is still too insecure to bring the manuscripts back to their home. Were not here and by marco because we want to be here on that we have to be here they want security is restored well go back to timbuktu with the manuscript. Thats what we wish for this is also. Got to bear mosque in timbuktu is the largest of its kind in west africa it was built in the 14th century and has been part of unesco World Heritage since 1908. Pounds 5 ben recently became the a mom here like generations before he is his predecessors heir and thus also the temporary owner of the library. Its 1000 manuscripts were hidden during the islamist occupation as well. Now the 26 year old uses the documents to prepare for friday prayers and once again preaches the tolerant and moderate form of his nom to which the desert city always stood until the islamists invaded. Or. Going to. Get out in book 2 we know no other islam than a tolerant one more and yet it isnt to be a muslim means to accept each other that is islam as a sense its forbidden to hama nava this is the islam we practice here in timbuktu and to my local question the societies from question. They are live for yet. Oh im glad. Alert. 7 during this friday prayer ben essay you spoke about the evil of ego ism. This is the tone set by his forefathers and a tolerant islam. Are harder. 5 the tour guide is glad that tolerant islam is once again being practiced in his home city. But of yfere as the old fable trading town on the edge of the sahara through which large salt caravans once past has fallen into oblivion. And many things continue to worry him even though the occupation of timbuktu by the islamists was 5 years ago life remains very difficult especially for younger people. And even go have a phone so i would like to maybe someday space meeting each other theres no i just use it in books a good break every 2 nothing for the youngest to do to have a farm somewhere to go have fun 2 2. There is excellent food but the meat skewers in this little street kitchen. But because of the bad roads it takes at least 2 days to reach the capital bamako from timbuktu which reinforces the feeling of seclusion. Busy fear is still a topic here. And not feel like saying too but there are some things here like bugs to a nightclub maybe Something Like that dresser. And there are still attacks by islamists. In april 28th jihadists managed to detonate car bombs at the airport. The airport building was almost completely destroyed. During the president ial election in august 28th the situation was again tense for fear of violence the turnout was low and there was unrest. In addition to mali and french armies the un troops remain in terms of 2 to provide security and peace. To. Lieutenant colonel beachfront a shot from nepal is on patrol today. The u. N. Mission in mali is one of the organizations most dangerous. Place. Outside the city. To kind of. The city. But. We need protection. Germany also participates in the un mission in mali around 100. 00 soldiers are stationed here which after afghanistan is the 2nd largest of the current 14 Foreign Missions carried out by the german armed forces. The primary objective in mali is to keep the population safe. And even a. Threat to the locals that its not really we are people that really what it takes to produce a place that that you. Know mother in law would just have its a good if you do this if somehow its ok for less. Than a 3rd to help with what. The situation has improved a little also economically. The governor attempt to province says this is especially important for younger generations. Laziness it would look with you know young people and more vulnerable members of society are particularly susceptible to being recruited by islamists or branded these. Movies and that is a danger. This is why it is so important to support that we can build their resilience if you give us and then also give them Economic Opportunity that if that activity you could have. The young people in timbuktu need and seek a prospective. Soldiers. Who lives in the middle of the city with one of his 3 brothers. He has managed to build a Small Business venture to earn a little money. Runs a website together with an american through which he sells postcards from his home city which he then sends all over the world. The idea is simple if tourists wont come to timbuktu then timbuktu can come to them. When you see that this. Message you send it here into anyway maybe you can send maybe your United States of america you want have a postcard from unit from to look to you were just what it by the web site and from that website you see your address and they said you want you could be at the post that you send it straight away to United States where you are full. For 10. 00 you can receive a postcard handwritten from one of the most legendary places in the world ali and his colleagues wont get rich doing this and if something doesnt change soon in terms of 2 then ali doesnt see a future for himself here anymore. Meanwhile he isnt the only young person trying to come up with new ideas for the future. This is alig. To raise a Young Filmmaker and friend of. The speakers and other equipment were being brought to our library for a screening. Ligi was nervous because it was his film being shown. He made it together with friends. Of the film is an important project for cultural life in turn back to. This is the 1st time that a film has been shown thats entirely from timbuktu if you. Is an important moment. And its the 1st time that people from timbuktu will go to the cinema. The story about children in turn back to is made up. But the films message is real. In the film we show the culture of timbuktu the clothes it has styles the architecture. Everything that concerns our city. We want to create a feeling of nostalgia for the people who were no longer in the city. We want to arouse the curiosity of those whove never been here. Community to. A ligi and his film crew spent 6 months shooting in timbuktu with the simplest of means. 2 laptops on a homemade table and 2 story you served as an editing suite a sponge had to suffice for the noise suppression during sound mixing. The film was made with few means but plenty of passion. It indeed was a challenge and weve never done it before but we tried and i guess well know tonight how we did it if the audience encourages us well continue. To work with. Everyone was welcome at the film premiere including ali ni ali who wouldnt have missed his friends big day. The screening became a social and cultural event in the desert city. Even the mayor of timbuktu was president. Thanks a lot for thought this is a decision not double crusade oh boy this film is so important because it was made by young people from timbuktu to look like you dont go deep. Thats a great achievement which we value as you see many and with energy shows the life of young people in our city its a satisfying feeling but i must say and seem to such as folks feel. Legendary timbuktu the desert city on the edge of the sahara still hasnt quite found its way the scars of the islamist occupation and the problems of the last years are still visible. The contrast between 10 book to former glory and the present day creates a certain tension. Still alimi ali feels hopeful especially when he is drinking tea with his friends on the sand and his thoughts are free to wander. I miss my best to move to what i wished him to move to taba peace. And living together like you used to know. Or a big bear like the my ship song that living together shane to together like you used to know before that i was into too i hope youll be ok. Dreams of finding happiness in his hometown he wants to stay here but there are many Young Africans from his age group who want to leave and look for happiness elsewhere but the path there is dangerous for example when they travel through the republic of uneasy air. This is the sun harra on the border between egypt and algeria. Our motto be to is a great close to loudoun every day he buries people who did not make it through the desert on their journey north. Since 2016