Ali Farka Touré, the 'desert bluesman' from the banks of the Niger, won a Grammy with Ry Cooder for Talking Timbuktu (1994) — then became mayor of Niafunké and poured his royalties into the town's roads and electricity.
The Great Mosque of Djenné is the world's largest mud-brick building — every year the whole town replasters it by hand in one big festive day of communal work.
Most governments currently advise against travel to Mali: check official travel advisories first and stick to vetted routes if the trip is unavoidable. Timbuktu's digitised manuscripts can be explored online. An eSIM helps: follow advisories in real time, keep family posted on every leg, and keep reliable news within reach.