Final answer:
The Great Mosque of Djenne serves as a central religious site for prayer, a traditional source of community involvement through annual maintenance, and an important historical and cultural symbol for the city of Djenne, Mali.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali functions primarily as a sacred congregational space for prayer, specifically for the Muslim community. Historically, the mosque has also been a center of religious learning and scholarship. The influence and significance of the mosque extend beyond its religious roles; it is a focal point and symbol of pride for the people of Djenne. Each year, the community participates in a maintenance ritual by applying a new layer of mud to the mosque's exterior, a tradition highlighting the mosque's central place in the community's cultural and spiritual life. The Great Mosque of Djenne also has historical importance as it was commissioned by Mansa Musa, one of the wealthiest and most powerful rulers in history, and showcases the urban integration essential to the architecture of grand mosques. It was built using local materials, like clay, and embodies a distinctive Sudano-Sahelian architectural style.