Larabanga mosque in Ghana, Upper West region
Larabanga is a small town in Western Gonja in Northern Region, and predominantly moslem town. The town became famous because of the mosque, which was built in the style of buildings in the former Western Sudanese Empires.
Larabanga mosque in Ghana, Upper West region
The mosque in Larabanga , is the eldest mosque in (today) Ghana. The mosque was built in 1421.
Unfortunately, you cannot view the inner the mosque. Dating from the 15 century, the Larabanga Mosque is the oldest mosque in Ghana, and one of the country’s most revered religious sites, but is a common believe that this mosque is even the oldest mosque in the whole area, including Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.
The mosque is now painted white, as for conservation reasons. |
The mosque, built with mud and reeds, has two tall towers in pyramidal shape, one for the mihrab which faces towards Mecca forming the facade on the east and the other as a minaret in the northeast corner. These are buttressed by twelve bulbous shaped structures, which are fitted with timber elements.
Larabanga is one of the eight ancient and highly revered mosques in Ghana and is also its oldest. It is a place of pilgrimage and is considered the Mecca of West Africa.
Even the present generation believe, the mosque was built by God. The villagers have built another mosque, where they go to pray or worship daily. The so-called 'God-built mosque' also houses a holy Koran / Quran, which also is believed to descend from heaven.
The Quran, believed by the locals, to have been given as a gift from heaven in 1650 to Yidan Barimah Bramah, the Imam at the time, as a result of his prayers. This holy book is read once in a year, during a special ceremony. Many prominent Muslim from Ivory Coast, where the people of Larabanga belief to have migrated from, visit the village for this special occasions. The old mosque was pictured on the previous five Cedi banknote. |
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According to a legend, in 1421 an Islamic trader named Ayuba had a dream while staying here, near a "Mystic Stone", instructing him to build a mosque. Strangely, when he awoke, he found that the foundations were already in place and he proceeded to construct the mosque until it was completed. It is believed that Ayuba's remains are buried under a baobab tree, next left to the mosque (pictured on top of the page).
This same village has a * Mystic Stone which could not be moved away during the time the Wa-Sawla-Tamale road was constructed. Each time it was moved, it kept coming back so they had to leave it and divert the road somehow. This portion of the road is popularly known as Larabanga SS now.
How to get there; It`s just 5 km from the MOTEL in the MOLE NATIONAL PARK and 8 km from Damongo. About 120 km from Tamale.
See below map, for more directions.
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