A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tomb of Askia was built by Askia Mohamed, the Emperor of Songhai, in 1495. Today, its mission is to collect, preserve, and disseminate information related to its historical, archeological, ethnographic, and contemporary heritage. The site also aims to bring more awareness to its history for tourism and educational purposes by, in particular, educating the younger generation on the need to protect and promote the site. The National Heritage Directorate Cultural (DNPC) of Mali oversees the site.