Did you know that Timbuktu is actually a real city? Even more, did you know that it is twinned with a Welsh town?
Many of us will have heard the name Timbuktu at some point. For me, it was probably a threat from an elder as a child – “I will send you to Timbuktu”. What many fail to grasp, however, is that Timbuktu is a very real, ancient city situated within the West-African country of Mali.
The Welsh town it is twinned with? Y Gelli Gandryll (English: Hay-on-Wye), Powys. Since 1988, Y Gelli Gandryll has hosted the Hay Festival – an annual literary/book festival which draws tens of thousands of visitors over a ten day period every year.
Perhaps, then, this relates to Timbuktu, known in Africa as the oldest home of the written word. Dozens of public and private libraries housing ancient Arabic and African manuscripts are accessible there, making the two towns worthy twins.
Cite this Article
George, N. “Did You Know? Timbuktu the Town Twins with a Welsh Town.” WelshHistories.com, July 27, 2025, https://welshhistories.co.uk/timbuktu-welsh-town. Accessed July 27, 2025.
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Niklas is the founder, owner, manager, editor, writer, video creator, voice over artist, and so forth, of Welsh Histories. He is passionate about the preservation of Welsh culture; the rejuvenation of the Welsh language and the promotion of Welsh history. Niklas currently resides in Pune, Maharashtra, with his beloved wife.
I knew Timbuktu was in Africa, but didn’t know what part <3
Now you know 😉