Larabanga
Encyclopedia
Larabanga is a town in north western Ghana
. It is known for its mud-built whitewashed Sahelian mosque
, said to date from 1421. It was at the height of the trans-Saharan trade
. It is reputed to be Ghana's oldest mosque
and houses a copy of the Qur'an
almost as old.
The town is also known for its Mystic Stone, for its patterned vernacular architecture
and as the entrance to the Mole National Park
.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. It is known for its mud-built whitewashed Sahelian mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
, said to date from 1421. It was at the height of the trans-Saharan trade
Trans-Saharan trade
Trans-Saharan trade requires travel across the Sahara to reach sub-Saharan Africa. While existing from prehistoric times, the peak of trade extended from the 8th century until the late 16th century.- Increasing desertification and economic incentive :...
. It is reputed to be Ghana's oldest mosque
Larabanga Mosque
The Larabanga Mosque is an historic mosque of the "Sudanese" architectural mosque type in the village of Larabanga, in Ghana. Though uncertainty exists about its age, it is believed to be one of the holiest Islamic sites in Ghana....
and houses a copy of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
almost as old.
The town is also known for its Mystic Stone, for its patterned vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
and as the entrance to the Mole National Park
Mole National Park
Mole National Park is Ghana's largest wildlife refuge. The park is located in northwest Ghana on grassland savanna and riparian ecosystems at an elevation of 150 m, with sharp escarpment forming the southern boundary of the park. The park's entrance is reached through the nearby town of...
.