Larabanga Mosque

The Larabanga Mosque is widely regarded as Ghana’s oldest mosque and one of the oldest surviving mosques in West Africa. Traditionally dated to 1421, it is often called the “Mecca of West Africa” because of its religious, historical, and architectural significance. Built in the distinctive Sudano-Sahelian (Sudanese) style using mud, timber, and reeds, the mosque is renowned for its pyramidal towers, projecting timber beams, and whitewashed earthen walls.

According to local tradition, an Islamic trader named Ayuba received divine inspiration in a dream to build the mosque. Beside the mosque stands a sacred baobab tree believed to mark his burial site. The mosque also houses an ancient Quran that local tradition says was miraculously bestowed upon an imam in the 17th century. Due to its fragile earthen construction, the mosque undergoes regular community-led maintenance and has benefited from international conservation efforts, including support from the World Monuments Fund

Important Visitor Information: As the mosque remains an active place of worship, non-Muslims are generally not permitted to enter the interior, but visitors can admire its architecture from outside and learn about its history through local guides.