Contest #7 Answer

Curses!! I can’t believe the company which sold the photo gave it away that easy! Andy McAllister picks up the win the assist from Dr. Bayer. The answer is Timbuktu, Mali. One of the most important trading cities in Africa and one of the places most responsible for the spread of Islam in North Africa.

Timbuktu (www.aluka.org) (by Aluka Digital Library)
Image from www.aluka.org