At a Glance
- Discover Africa’s ancient mosques preserving Islamic history and architectural mastery across the continent.
- These mosques blended Islamic design with local materials, inspiring generations of builders and scholars.
- Sites like Kairouan and Djinguereber remain vibrant spiritual and cultural centers to this day.
Africa is home to some of the oldest mosques on earth, standing as enduring monuments to the continent’s rich Islamic heritage. From the 7th century arrival of Islam through trade, migration, and conquest, these sacred spaces became cornerstones of African society.
Beyond serving as places of worship, they were vibrant centers of learning, where scholars gathered to study theology, science, and law, shaping the intellectual landscape of entire regions.
Architecturally, Africa’s ancient mosques reflect a remarkable fusion of styles: the mud-brick Sudano-Sahelian elegance of Mali’s Djinguereber Mosque, the grand stone courtyards of Tunisia’s Great Mosque of Kairouan, and the simple, whitewashed forms of Ethiopia’s Al-Nejashi Mosque.
Each structure embodies the adaptation of Islamic design to local materials and traditions, creating unique masterpieces that have influenced generations.
Today, these mosques remain vital cultural landmarks, attracting worshippers and travelers alike.
Their preservation is crucial, not only for their historical and spiritual value but also for their role in educating future generations about Africa’s profound contributions to global civilization.
In this article, we delve into the 10 oldest mosques in Africa—exploring their origins, architectural beauty, and lasting significance.
1️. Masjid al-Qiblatayn (Mosque of the Two Qiblas) — Zeila, Somalia
Founded: 7th century CE
Significance: Often cited as the oldest mosque in Africa. Built shortly after Islam arrived in the Horn of Africa, legend holds it was among the earliest mosques established by followers of the Prophet Muhammad who fled persecution in Arabia.
2️. Al-Nejashi Mosque — Negash, Ethiopia
Founded: 7th century CE (circa 613–615 CE)
Significance: Considered the first mosque in Ethiopia and among the oldest in the world. Named after the Christian king (the Najashi) who gave refuge to the early Muslims.
3️. Great Mosque of Kairouan — Kairouan, Tunisia
Founded: 670 CE by Uqba ibn Nafi
Significance: The oldest mosque in North Africa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most important centers of Islamic scholarship.
4️. Great Mosque of Mahdia — Mahdia, Tunisia
Founded: 916 CE
Significance: Built by the Fatimid Caliphate, it was a fortress mosque protecting the coast and an important religious center.
5️. Great Mosque of Sidi Okba — Biskra, Algeria
Founded: Early 8th century CE (c. 686–715 CE)
Significance: One of Algeria’s oldest mosques, named after Uqba ibn Nafi, the Arab general who led the Islamic expansion into North Africa.
6️. Great Mosque of Damascus of Egypt — Fustat, Old Cairo
Founded: 642 CE (Amr ibn al-As Mosque)
Significance: The first mosque ever built on the African continent by Muslim conquerors. While earlier mosques exist in Somalia and Ethiopia through migration, this was the first constructed as part of conquest.
7️. Great Mosque of Tlemcen — Tlemcen, Algeria
Founded: 1082 CE
Significance: A masterpiece of Almoravid architecture and one of the oldest mosques in the Maghreb still in use.
8️. Larabanga Mosque — Larabanga, Ghana
Founded: 1421 CE (local oral tradition)
Significance: The oldest mosque in West Africa, built in Sudano-Sahelian style, and a key historic landmark in Ghana.
9️. Djinguereber Mosque — Timbuktu, Mali
Founded: 1327 CE by Mansa Musa
Significance: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most famous mosques of medieval Africa and a center of Islamic scholarship.
10. Great Mosque of Kilwa — Kilwa Kisiwani, TanzaniaFounded: 11th century CE
Significance: Among the oldest surviving mosques on the East African Swahili Coast, reflecting early Islamic influence in the Indian Ocean trade network.
