The 19th-century Dondoli Mosque in Ghana

In the village of Dondoli in Wa, Ghana, stands the Dondoli Mosque. Built in the 19th century, the mosque is constructed in the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style using local materials and construction techniques. It remains in partial ruins, similar to other mosques found in the Northern and Savannah Regions of Ghana.

Historical accounts suggest the mosque was built by a man named Karimafa who migrated from Mali to Wa. For a time, the structure was known as the Karimafa Mosque, named after its founder. The construction of mosques in this region historically served as resting points for Islamic traders moving along trade routes.

Islam is said to have entered Africa around the 10th century CE, moving from Egypt to the Western and Southern parts along gold trade routes. In Ghana, these routes were used by Islamic traders, Mande warriors, and other missionaries. These routes were sometimes marked by incursions by the Berber Dynasty, which played a major role in the spread of Islam in the area.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons