"The traditions of scholarship in Mauritania during the past three centuries, albeit profoundly linked to the medieval epoch, are probably the richest in West Africa. They compare favorably with [those of] Maghribi societies of an earlier date."
- Charles Stewart,
  Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,
  University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana

The traditional Islamic school in Mauritania is referred to as Mahdara(literally - a fenced in or protected place). It has a long tradition going back to the Murabitun.......read more