The 17th century Nakore mosque in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Photographs by Rev. William Haun.

The 17th century Nakore mosque in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Photographs by Rev. William Haun. 

The mosque at Nakore is one of less than 10 surviving historical mosques in Northern Ghana, built in the local Sudano-Sahelian style. This earthen mosque was founded by Mande traders following the trade routes connecting Mali to the north with the gold rich Akan country to the south. Its whitewashed exterior, buttresses, reinforcing protruding timbers that are also used as scaffolding and its pyramidal shaped minarets, are reminiscent of other historical mosques in the region, such as the more famous and older Larabanga mosque, as well as the mosques of Banda Nkwanta, Maluwe, Bole and others. The mosque still serves as the Friday prayer ground of the town and attracts regular pilgrims from the broader region.