The oldest Mosque in Ghana, also referred to as the “Mecca of West Africa” has finally collapsed.
The Larabanga Mosque is the oldest in all of Ghana, possibly in all of West Africa. It has survived for centuries despite inclement weather and bad reconstruction projects.
As the legend goes, Ayuba, a Moorish trader, was traveling across the Sahara in 1421 when he spent the night in the village of Larabanga.
He received instructions in a dream to construct a mosque in the village, and when he awoke the foundations had already been set for him. He built the mosque in the traditional Sudanic-Sahelian style, from mud and reeds.
Ayuba remained in Larabanga for the rest of his life, and where his remains were buried beneath a nearby baobab tree, the leaves were said to have special healing powers.
By the 1970s the mosque was badly deteriorated and in need of reconstruction. A reconstruction crew applied cement to the walls in the hopes of strengthening them, but the mixture allowed moisture to penetrate the ancient wooden beams.
A termite infestation followed, and a storm toppled the weakened minaret. With support from the World Monuments Fund, the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, and American Express, the conservators then employed local artisans to fix their mistakes.
They carefully removed the cement and reapplied a mud paste much like Ayuba had used 550 years prior. The minaret was rebuilt, the walls were whitewashed, and the mosque was restored as to its former glory.
The mud mosque stood as a testament to the rich embroidery of Ghana's cultural and historical heritage.
The Bole Mud Mosque had a unique architectural design just like the famous Larabanga Mosques in Tamale.
The mud mosque had wooden poles that were found around the building not only for protection but also function as a sort of structural support to the building.
However, despite its undeniable significance, the mosque had been gradually deteriorating, plagued by recent negligence and the relentless forces of nature. The structure, which has weathered centuries of history has finally been brought down after it was left at the mercy of the weather and termites.
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