Mosquée de Bani, Historic mosque cluster in Bani, Burkina Faso
Mosquée de Bani is a complex of seven mud-brick structures with the main mosque positioned at the base of a hill and six smaller buildings arranged around it. All the buildings were constructed using traditional techniques with earth materials and wooden supports.
The complex was founded in the early 1980s by Mohamed el-Hajj, who made a pilgrimage to Mecca from Burkina Faso and then built the seven mosques with community support. This project arose from deep religious conviction and was accomplished entirely through local labor and cooperation.
The mosques here reflect a local understanding of Islam where women do not cover their heads and the community follows a relaxed approach to religious observance. Walking through, you notice how faith is practiced in a way that feels natural to the people who worship here.
Visitors can explore the buildings throughout the day while wearing appropriate clothing and respecting prayer times. It helps to visit in early morning or late afternoon when it is cooler and fewer people are present.
The six smaller mosques around the main one are not oriented toward Mecca but instead face inward toward the central building, creating an unusual arrangement that breaks from typical Islamic architectural rules. This layout was designed intentionally to represent a person kneeling in prayer, giving the entire complex a symbolic shape.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
