This whitewashed mud built sahelian mosque contains an ancient copy of the quran and is said to date from near the same date. It has undergone restoration several times since it was founded in 1421. The larabanga mosque is a mosque, built in the sudanese architectural style in the village of larabanga, ghana. It is a place of pilgrimage and is considered the mecca of west africa. Each side of the building bore a separate entrance. Larabanga a town of an ancient mosque and a mystic stone duration. It is popularly referred to as the mecca of west africa, because of its rich historical and architectural values. Any act of worship that follows the islamic rules of prayer can be said to create a mosque, whether or not it takes place in a special building. Larabanga mosque labaragaga is situated 10 miles 16 km west of damongo, nr and only about 5 miles to the mole national park dept of game and wild life. Informal and openair places of worship are called musalla, while mosques. Closer to home, the larabanga mosque at the center of town is a world heritage site and the oldest mosque in ghana. Jul 24, 2018 the history of the mud mosque in larabanga is difficult to distinguish from the many myths about it.
An architectural study of a subsaharan subject is very much a rare thing in the field of historical architecture. Pdf on dec 1, 2016, michelle moore apotsos and others published new meanings and historical messages in the larabanga mosque find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Media in category larabanga mosque the following 15 files are in this category, out of 15 total. On the way from tamale to the savannah region, you will make a stop at the oldest mosque in west africa founded in 1421, which was built in the sudanese architectural style in the village of larabanga, ghana. In just over 400 pages the author succeeds in giving a wellorganized, wellresearched, and wellwritten account of the history of christianity on the entire african continent, from antiquity to the present. Ghana city tours is your perfect private tour partner to explore the history of ghana, its attractions.
Arvin by the ghanaians to take us to larabanga village to take a look at the mosque and the famed mystic stone which have put larabanga on the world tourist map. Islam, which first entered africa through egypt in the 10th century ad, progressed from egypt towards the west and the south at the same time as the transsaharan slave and gold trade routes. The mecca of west africa, the larabanga mosque is the oldest. The larabanga mosque has a striking structural design.
Adobe the larabanga mosque is a mosque, built in the sudanese architectural style in the village of larabanga, ghana. Subcategories this category has only the following subcategory. Lists of mosques cover mosques, places of worship for muslims. When you arrive to the larabanga mosque, you should go to pay a fee to visit the atraction, after you should pay the guide. The lists include the most famous, largest and oldest mosques, and mosques mentioned in the quran, as well as lists of mosques in each region and country of the world. I was scrolling my facebook timeline one day and came across an article about the larabanga mosque since i am a history lover i put this on my list of places to visit in ghana. Mosque by david macaulay is a nonfiction book that is intended for the intermediate to advance age group. According to legend, ayuba, a trader of moorish origins, was travelling across the sahara in 1421 century when he spent the night in the village of larabanga. Larabanga is a small town about 450 kilometres away from the capital of ghana, accra. Visit larabanga mosque on your trip to larabanga or ghana. Project muse new meanings and historical messages in the. Amazingly, the mosque is always cool inside, even when temperatures stay high outside.
Larabanga is known as unique mosque as tourism site. They are local folks who will give you the history of the mosque as well as a tour of the nearby village. Larabanga is built in a traditional sudanese architecture and easily recognised by its horizontal. Its fame and popularity probably owe a lot to the appeal of the mystery and magic in those fascinating legends. This book is about how a mosque was constructed during the sixteenth century. Oral history and other sources suggest that the ancestors of some of ghanas residents entered this area at least as early as the 10th century ad and that migration from the north and east continued thereafter these migrations resulted in part from the formation and disintegration of a. Believed to have been built by moorish traders during the time of the transsaharan trade in the th century, larabanga is ghanas oldest. May 04, 2017 larabanga mosque northern region gcb bank limited. Discover and book hotels, restaurants and local experiences in 50,000. This book shows diagrams of the construction as well as showing the. The huaisheng mosque is the main mosque of guangzhou.
The larabanga mosque made it to the world monuments funds list of 100 most endangered sites. Larabanga is one of eight ancient and highly revered mosques in ghana, and is also the oldest. The larabanga mosque is a historic mosque, built in the sudanese architectural style in the village of larabanga, ghana. He built the mosque in the traditional sudanicsahelian style, from mud and reeds. While you are not allowed in the mosque, the local guide explained the history and structure of the building, and the significance of many of the aspects of the building. The seventeenth century structures style was heavily influenced by western sudanese architecture, characterized by the use of horizontal timber, pyramidal towers, buttresses, and triangular perforations over entry portals. Jun 02, 2016 larabanga is a town with a great history and rich culture. It reconstructs the history of larabanga as a seat of islam in the west african savannaincluding the history of its dominant ethnic group, the kamaraand traces the simultaneous emergence of an architectural idiom that embodied the towns unique identity. In this concise book the author outlines step by step the purposes of a mosque, what takes place in them and why, and where the idea for a mosque came from. With an outstanding selection, easytouse search tools and descriptive hotel profiles, youll find larabanga mosque hotel deals in a wink.
An ancient mosque of sudanese architecture is their pride. The mecca of west africa, the larabanga mosque is the. Larabanga is a town with a great history and rich culture. Larabanga mosque and mystery stone home to over 93 mammals including elephant, hippos, warthogs, antelopes the mole national park also holds a great collection of birds. Do you need to book in advance to visit larabanga mosque.
Larabanga a town of an ancient mosque and a mystic stone. Larabanga is about 4 kilometres away from the capital of the west gonja district. The countrys oldest and most revered islamic shrine, larabanga mosque dates back to 1421. According to history, the tree sprung up on the grave of the spiritual consultant and founder of larabanga after his burial. Whether you know it or not, or will admit it or not, we are at war and the enemy is islam. The history of the mud mosque in larabanga is difficult to distinguish from the many myths about it. According to one story, ayuba slept in the area and had a. Short documentary film, larabanga mosque ghana youtube. There is some controversy over when exactly the mosque was built, and who built it.
It is the oldest mosque in the country and one of the oldest in west africa, and has been referred to as the mecca of west africa. The association of the mosque with education remained one of its main characteristics throughout history, additional citations needed and the school became an indispensable appendage to the mosque. It has undergone restoration several times since it was originally founded in 1421 17th century according to some. The larabanga mosque sits about 100 metres away from the sawladamongo road, one of. The larabanga mosque is thought to be the oldest mosque in ghana and west africa. New meanings and historical messages in the larabanga mosque. The mecca of west africa, the larabanga mosque is the oldest mosque in ghana oct 12, 2016 david goran believed to have been built by moorish traders during the time of the transsaharan trade in the th century, larabanga is ghanas oldest mosque, and. Youll sometimes hear that the larabanga mosque was founded in 1421 instead of 1600s and the claim that it is the oldest mosque in all of west africa. Jun 07, 2019 this is the oldest mosque in ghana, believed to have been built by the moors in the th century, although some argue that the date could possibly be the 15th century. This is the oldest mosque in ghana, believed to have been built by the moors in the th century, although some argue that the date could possibly be the 15th century. Larabanga, ghana built primarily from packed earth, larabanga is ghanas oldest mosque, and one of the countrys most revered religious sites.
The larabanga mosque is made from mud and sticks and its exterior seems to change colour throughout the day, varying from white to goldenbronze. From the earliest days of islam, the mosque was the center of the muslim community, a place for prayer, meditation, religious instruction. They also believe in a stone they regard as sacred. Larabanga is built in a traditional sudanese architecture and easily recognised by. Larabanga mosque, ancient westsudanese style mosque, larabanga, ghana the africa image library larabanga mosque, ghana the oldest and most revered mosque in ghana is the larabanga mosque. The twon of larabanga with famouse ancient mosque, is bleived to be the oldest islamic buildhing in ghana. For the history of the mosque and of the people of larabanga, you should visit the larabanga.
The mosque is completely hidden from the main road and surrounded by other buildings. The larabanga mosque is a mosque, built in the sudanese architectural style in the village of. For the history of the mosque and of the people of larabanga, you should visit the larabanga mosque. In the 1970s, a mixture of sand and cement was applied to the external faces of the mosque with the intention of protecting the mosque from wind and rain damage. The larabanga mosque is the oldest in all of ghana, possibly in all of west africa. Larabanga mosque the larabanga mosque is the oldest in all of ghana, possibly in all of west africa. Built primarily from packed earth, larabanga is ghanas oldest mosque, and one. We had a knowledgeable guide and although we couldnt go inside he did give us a brief history of the mosque. It does something to a history lover to touch a structure that is considered the oldest in all of west africa. Built primarily from packed earth, larabanga is ghanas oldest mosque, and one of the countrys most revered religious sites. The second famouse sightseeing spot in northern region. This idea comes from another oral account of an islamic trader named ayuba had a dream while staying there instructing him to build a mosque. Whether you are craving to experience the hustle and bustle of the capital city or enjoy the atlantic. Believed to have been built by moorish traders during the time of the trans saharan trade in the th century, larabanga is ghanas oldest.
Larabanga mosque, ghana larabanga mosque, in ghana, was built in the sudanese architectural style and is the countrys oldest mosque. The history of the mud mosque in larabanga is difficult to distinguish from. Ghana has three major geographic regionscoastal, forest, and northern savannathe boundaries of which are not always clearly defined. The larabanga mosque is a mosque, built in the sudanese architectural style in the. A booklength scholarly work on architecture on the african continent is so. Dating from the 15 century, the larabanga mosque is the oldest mosque in ghana, and one of the countrys 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. Oct 22, 2003 mosque by david macaulay is a nonfiction book that is intended for the intermediate to advance age group.
History most of the communities of the regions of northern ghana, especially the northern region, are muslim. New meanings and historical messages in the larabanga mosque michelle moore apotsos bio as a structural manifestation of the ways in which time and transformation have been allowed to act upon the human environment, architectural form is very much a documentary record of the histories, events, influences, and interruptions that make up the. Dec 16, 2017 larabanga is a small town about 450 kilometres away from the capital of ghana, accra. Built in traditional style, it was created using mud, reeds and whatever came to hand in the local area.
The major regions, africa, americas, asia, europe and oceania are sorted alphabetically. It is believed that an islamic trader called ayuba, who was travelling through the area, built the mosque. He then pushed us to buy shea butter and there were children asking for money though which was a bit distressing. This book shows diagrams of the construction as well as showing the reader the importance of a mosque in the culture. Rituals of transformation in african societies by eugenia w. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Right next to the mosque is a baobab tree believed to be 500 years old. The larabanga mosque is the oldest and one of the most beautiful mosques in ghana. Oct 12, 2016 the mecca of west africa, the larabanga mosque is the oldest mosque in ghana oct 12, 2016 david goran believed to have been built by moorish traders during the time of the transsaharan trade in the th century, larabanga is ghanas oldest mosque, and one of the countrys most revered religious sites. Restored several times over the years, the building features two tall towers buttressed by twelve bulbous structures fitted with timber. The story continues that ayuba never left larabanga once he had completed the mosque. It is not just any mosque but an ancient one which is over a hundred years. The dimensions of the mosque are approximately 8m by 8m.
It is believed to be first built by moorish traders and is one of the holiest sites in ghana the century larabanga mosque. Larabanga is in the west gonja district in the northern region, one of the 9 regions of ghana. The history behind the famous mosque is cloaked in mystery. The park is ghanas largest wildlife refuge go on a safari or hiking with an armed guard early morning or late evening. Near to mole park in northern ghana is the small town of larabanga, and this has what is said to be ghanas oldest mosque, and possibly oldest building still standing, possibly built well before white people visited the country. Larabanga also laribanga is a village in the west gonja district of the northern region of ghana. It reconstructs the history of larabanga as a seat of islam in the west. Apostos book focuses in on larabanga mosque in northern ghana but also discusses the style of architecture in the region iron, gender and power. It has undergone restoration several times since it was founded in 1421, after which you will be taken to the larabanga mystic stone. The story goes that he was given instructions to build the mosque in a dream.
This new book on the history of christianity in africa is a remarkable achievement. It has survived for centuries despite inclement weather and bad reconstruction projects. We recommend booking larabanga mosque tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Orbitz makes it easy to find the best larabanga mosque hotel deals for your trip. It is so white in this picture because they took it right after its yearly renovationpainting. Nov 21, 2019 we recommend booking larabanga mosque tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Its been known as the mecca of west africa ever since it was built in the 1400s, and its greeted centuries of pilgrims who have come to witness its distinctive beauty.
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