Nomad Africa Edition 13

Top Left: The great mosque of Kairouan is a UNESCO
Heritage site in the city of Kairouan, Tunisia. The city
harbours one of the most significant mosques in the world.
Top Right: The Monastery of Saint Anthony in Egypt.
Top: The great mosque of Djenne.
Far Left: Church of St. George is located in the town of
Lalibela, Ethiopia. The town is known for its extraordinary
rock-hewn churches. Created between the 12th and 13th
centuries, the 11 medieval churches were carved out of
volcanic tuff rock – each one is literally cut out of stone.
Left: Interior of the Ben Ezra Synagogue.
of a courtyard, prayer hall with 17 naves and
a pool known as the Old Cistern. The building
is an architectural wonder that combines
a range of influences, including pre-Islam,
Eastern Islamic, Umayyad, Byzantine, and
Roman.
Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion
Ethiopia’s Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion
is one of the most famous churches in the
world for a few reasons. It’s a historical treasure
believed to have been built in the 4th
century during the reign of Ezana, the first
Christian King of Ethiopia. The church, located
in the heritage city of Aksum, has
been rebuilt several times since then. But
despite its rich history, perhaps one thing
that has made the structure known the
world over is its claim that the church is in
possession of the Ark of the Covenant. The
legendary Ark is the gold-covered wooden
chest that contains the Ten Commandments
written on two stone tablets. For centuries,
the holy object was kept in the Temple of
King Solomon in Jerusalem. So how did it
end up in Ethiopia? According to the Church
of Our Lady Mary of Zion, the object was
taken to the East African country during the
reign of King Menelik I, believed to be the
son of the superbly wise King Solomon and
the Queen of Sheba. Although the church
claims to possess the Ark, its whereabouts
remain a bone of contention among researchers
and scholars alike. Proof of the
holy object’s Ethiopian location is not readily
available as no one can see it except for a
solitary monk who guards it for life.
Nizamiye Mosque
Located in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nizamiye
is believed to be the biggest mosque
complex in the Southern Hemisphere. This
religious centre was built by Turkish businessman
and philanthropist, Ali Katircioglu
in 2012. Nizamiye is fashioned after the 16thcentury
Selimiye Mosque in Turkey, a building
that showcases the spectacular
Ottoman design. The mosque boasts 21
domes, with the main one framed by four
towering minarets. More than 200 stainedglass
windows adorn the building. The interior
is a breathtaking sight, featuring intricate
hand-painted designs. The complex includes
community facilities such as a school
that takes 800 pupils, a clinic, conference
rooms, shops, bakery, bookshop, and a
restaurant.
Jummah Masjid Mosque
There’s more to Mauritius than just stunning
beaches, lagoons and reefs. The island nation
of 1.2 million people is made up of diverse
traditions and religions, including
Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and
others. One of the most prominent religious
buildings in the Indian Ocean island is the
Jummah Masjid Mosque, unmissable in the
capital Port Louis. Formerly known as the
Mosque of the Arabs, the edifice was built
in the 1850s, combining Indian, Creole, and
Islamic architecture. As the Muslim population
grew in Port Louis, a larger mosque was
needed. So, in 1857, more land was bought
by Muslim merchants, leading to the expansion
of the Jummah Masjid Mosque.
Issue 13 | ...Celebrating the world’s richest continent | www.nomadafricamag.com | 15