A few years ago, the Timbuktu Manuscripts were on display in Grahamstown, South Africa. I wanted to go. For a student of African history, there is little more precious than the opportunity to see these documents – evidence of a forgotten past of civilisation, learning and philosophy in West Africa. I didn’t get there. Things came up. There was work. It wasn’t possible.

Today, Reuters is reporting that Islamists who had occupied the town of Timbuktu are reported to have set fire to the libraries built (incidentally by South Africa) to house thousands of these precious documents. I couldn’t be more sad. Here’s hoping that some of that incredible history has survived!