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  A PLACE TO VISIT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE DINTIGI (BUKUM FESTIVAL) CELEBRATION L arabanga is located in the West Gonja Municipality of Ghana's Savannah Region. It is 120 kilometres south of Tamale, 15 kilometres west of Damongo, and adjacent to Mole National Park. A tiny Muslim population with a rich history has settled on this plateau, exploiting the great expanse of land for cultivation (yam, cassava, maize, millet, and guinea corn) and animal breeding (cows, goats, sheep, poultry, and guinea fowl). The village also employs natural resources to shelter itself, with all of its building materials made of clayey earth. This synergy between the people and their surroundings has resulted in a distinctive traditional architecture that has been preserved by the community in such a way that everyone can appreciate and profit from it. T oday , Islam is practised throughout West Africa, and Larabanga has become an important pilgrimage site. Imam Yidan Braimah realised the necessit

PRIVILEGED POSITION WITHIN THE ROYAL COURTS OF THE GONJAS Every region of Ghana has its own unique cultural character and breathtaking scenery. Larabanga, a little village of 4,000 people, houses Ghana's oldest mosque and is known as the "Mecca of West Africa" by the Muslim community. The yearly fire festival, which draws thousands of visitors from the sub-region, is the most celebrated event in the residents' rich spiritual and cultural life. Throughout the book, you will learn about the extensive cultural and natural assets that make Larabanga one of the most popular tourist sites in the country's north, as well as the Mole National Park, Ghana's largest natural reserve. The elders of the hamlet tell us about Larabanga's history, which has been passed down orally from generation to generation. According to some stories, the settlement was founded in the 11th century AD, while others believe it was founded in the 13th or 14th century AD. Oral tradition