Ghana: the fascinating discovery of the Larabanga Mosque, the Mecca of West Africa

Ghana: the fascinating discovery of the Larabanga Mosque, the Mecca of West Africa

There are enchanting trips to the land of Islam, punctuated by fascinating discoveries, like the one that invites you to go back in time on the road to the most picturesque mosques.

In Ghana, if the walls of the Larabanga Mosque, the oldest in the country and one of the first to be built in West Africa, could speak, they would undoubtedly provide valuable information on the long and rich history of this beacon of Islam like no other, which rose towards the firmament in the 14th century.

Nicknamed “ Mecca of West Africa the 700-year-old Larabanga Mosque is made entirely of mud and reeds. It stands out for its Sudanese architectural style, but also for its extraordinary ability to cross the centuries by remaining proudly upright, despite the sometimes oppressive heat. Fortunately, mud has always been able to preserve the freshness of its sacred enclosure.

Flanked by two towers recognizable by their pyramidal shape, one for the Mihrab indicating the direction of Mecca, the other being a minaret from which rises the call to prayer every day, this jewel of Islamic heritage has also four doors: the first whose access is reserved for the chief of the village, the second for the men, the third for the women, and the last by which the muezzin enters.

Discover it in pictures (videos and photos)

Interior shots and video taken by IlmFeed Travel