Larabanga Mosque, Sacred mosque in Northern Region, Ghana
Larabanga Mosque measures around 8 by 8 meters (26 by 26 feet) and is built with packed earth featuring two pyramidal towers and twelve buttresses. The walls of mud and straw are reinforced with visible wooden beams that project from the surface, giving the structure its characteristic appearance.
The trader Ayuba founded the mosque in 1421, making it the oldest mosque in Ghana and one of the earliest in West Africa. Over the centuries, the building has survived countless rainy seasons thanks to regular maintenance by the community.
The building has separate entrances for the village chief, men, women, and the muezzin who calls the faithful to prayer. The mud walls are still maintained by local craftsmen who practice traditional plastering using the same materials as centuries ago.
The building requires regular maintenance using traditional mud-based plaster techniques to prevent damage from rain and wind. Visitors should inquire before entering, as it remains an active place of worship with restricted access during prayer times.
Inside rests an ancient Quranic manuscript that, according to local tradition, appeared in 1650 as an answer to the prayers of Imam Yidan Barimah Bramah. The manuscript is kept in a small chamber and is regarded by residents as a holy relic.
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