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Timbuktu is perhaps one of the most famous cities in Africa. Its name is easily recognisable, everyone has heard of it, and yet few know where it is or why it is famous. It was known as the intellectual center for the propagation of Islamic teachings throughout Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries and its single most powerful and long- lasting contribution to Islamic and world civilization is scholarship.

But the city and its people became victim to decay and decline from the 17th century and Timbuktu became a by-word for nowhere in particular. Europeans sacked and stole from many libraries, causing hundreds of locals to hide some 100,000 remaining ancient manuscripts in boxes under floors and in desert caves.

Thousands of copies of the Quran and books on Islamic law, as well as decorated biographies of the Prophet Muhammad, are among more than 100,000 quickly decaying leather bound manuscripts that modern-day Malians are trying to preserve.

With the support of South Africa, Libya and African-American scholars, Timbuktu is now witnessing a renaissance. Its manuscripts are being copied, restored, studied and interpreted, to be showcased in high-tech institutions with the necessary equipment to preserve the historical documents. Much of the history and long kept secrets and knowledge of Africa is about to unfold.

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About Al Jazeera - Witness

Rageh Omaar presents Witness, a half-hour daily documentary series which features short, specially commissioned or acquired films gathered from independent filmmakers.
 
Each documentary reveals the unknown lives of ordinary people, following their lives, telling their stories and portraying the challenges that confront them. Our witnesses are people in a situation or those who have observed them first hand.
 
The films cover conflict, belief, the past and the future and as well as bringing new stories to light they showcase the talents of a new breed of multi-skilled, frontline journalist. In the studio, Rageh will further explore the issues raised in the films, with expert guests on the subject matter and the filmmakers themselves.