The Grand Mud Mosque of Kong

It is unclear how long the Grand Mud Mosque of Kong has been around, but the region it sits in has been inhabited since the 14th century. Islam quickly took hold in the region when it was introduced, and records indicate many mosques were constructed in the 18th century. However, this mosque is likely the result of more recent construction, like other mosques of Sudanese style.

The Grand Mud Mosque of Kong and a smaller private family mosque only a short walk away are a UNESCO World Heritage site, built in the Sahelian baked-mud style most famously known from the Great Mud Mosque of Djenné in Mali and similar mosques in Burkina Faso and Ghana. 

Interior support beams help keep the building structurally sound and also provide scaffolding for annual upkeep to keep the space in repair. Ostrich eggs adorn the rooftop minarets, similar to mosques from Chinguetti to Sudan to Djenné. A small colony of bats also calls the mosque home. 

Perhaps the biggest draw to this place is its remote location and lack of tourists—estimated at one or two individuals to a few small groups per month.