Mahamane Fondogoumo Djitteye

Mahamane Fondogoumo Djitteye is a Malian journalist and peace activist. In 2012, after spending 7 years as a consultant, translator, and storyteller for international visitors, he began his journalism career covering Mali’s civil war. He runs the “Timbuktu: Land of Peace and Culture” website (http://voicesofpeace.wixsite.com/timbuktu) and is communications director for the Timbuktu Renaissance Project. He was born in 1986 in the fabled desert city of Timbuktu, where he was raised. In November 2006, Mahamane participated the regional youth summit on countering violent extremism in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri, Nigeria. He speaks fluent English, French, Songhai, Bambara, Arabic, and Tamasheq. Mahamane Fondogoumo Djitteye has a master’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Bamako. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington fellowship(Africa), Mahamane plans to continue his works in empowering youth of Timbuktu in civic leadership, promoting peace, education, countering the violent extremism narrative online, while focusing on using the cultural heritage of Timbuktu as catalyst for lasting peace and development opportunities on the edge of the Sahara Desert.