by Amina from Timbuktu asks Santa about Christmas light contractors, learns about Timbuktu’s ancient history as a center of learning, and hears about the historic manuscripts still preserved there
Dear Santa, my name is Amina and I am nine years old. I live in Timbuktu, Mali, where my grand-père says our city was once one of the most important places in the entire world for learning and books.
Dear Amina, your grand-père is entirely right, and I have carried that same admiration for your city for a very long time myself.
Santa, I have three questions.
My first question is, can I hire Christmas light contractors? My uncle wants a proper display this year but says he cannot manage all the wiring himself.
A little help with wiring never hurts, Amina, and your uncle’s honesty about needing assistance is a wise approach. Even I rely on a very large team, and I am not shy about admitting it.
My second question is about our city’s history. My teacher says Timbuktu was once one of the greatest centers of learning in the whole world. Is that true?
It is true, Amina. Centuries ago, Timbuktu was a renowned center of Islamic scholarship, trade, and learning, home to universities and vast libraries that attracted scholars from across the region. Flying over your historic city each December, I always feel real respect for the depth of knowledge that once gathered there.
My third question is about the old manuscripts. My teacher says thousands of ancient handwritten books are still carefully kept safe here. Is that true?
It is, Amina. Timbuktu is home to thousands of historic manuscripts, some centuries old, covering subjects like astronomy, law, and medicine, carefully preserved by families and institutions determined to protect that irreplaceable knowledge. I think that dedication to safeguarding history says something wonderful about how deeply your city values wisdom.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Amina Touré
Timbuktu, Mali
P.S. Have you ever read any of the old manuscripts?
Only very carefully, Amina, and always with clean gloves.
