From Mosques to Palaces and Hammams to Madrasas, in this journal, we explore some of African's most Prominent architecture; a prayer made in space, stone, mud, and light.
Ben Youssef Madrasa
The Ben Youssef Madrasa was the largest Islamic college in the Maghreb at its height, and is widely recognized as a pinnacle of Saadian and Moroccan architecture; a place of sacred beauty.
The madrasa was constructed by Sultan Abdullah Al-Ghaleb Assaadi between 1564 and 1565, standing out for the harmony of its architecture and the diversity of its construction materials, making it an architectural and artistic gem that reflects the history of authentic Moroccan art. Holiday Insights At its peak, the madrasa consisted of 130 student rooms and housed up to 800 students, making it the largest madrasa in Morocco. Calendarr
The ornamentation of the madrasa is one of its most unique features, especially for its clear insistence that learning should take place in a place of beauty. The school made use of pools, gardens and fountains, and had its surfaces covered in mosaic tilework, carved stucco and wood.
The madrasa was initially active for more than 400 years then faced a number of closes and re-opens until it finally reopened in April 2022. To stand within its hallowed walls today is to be enveloped by magnificence.
The Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali
The Great Mosque of Djenné is one of the wonders of African architecture.
The first mosque on the site was built around the 13th century, but the current structure dates from 1907, designed by the head of Djenné's guild of masons. Being made of mud, the grand mosque's greatest allure is its impermanence. It is maintained through an annual festival called "La fête de crépissage," where the entire community gathers to apply a fresh coat of mud plaster to protect it from rain and wind. This communal maintenance turns the architecture spiritual, as the collective builds as a form of worship.
THE HAMMAMS OF FEZ AND MARRAKECH
Islamic bath houses were often constructed as part of mosque complexes which acted as both community centres and places of worship. The general plan featured a regular sequence of rooms: an undressing room, a cold room, a warm room, and a hot room.
The Hammam Saffarin in Fes is firmly distinguished by its richly decorated reception room or changing room. The hammam has three bathing rooms (cold, warm and hot) which are all covered in vaulted roofs. The inside of the hammams features detailed tile work, calligraphic designs, and other decorative elements under impressive domed ceilings or vaulted archways, reflecting Islamic, Ottoman, and Moorish influences.
Historic hammams in Fes are distinct for having separate rooms for men and women, which allowed the hammam to be open to both sexes all day long, instead of holding separate opening hours.
Al-Azhar Mosque, Egypt
Founded in 970 CE, Al-Azhar was the first mosque established in Cairo and slowly developed into the affiliated Al-Azhar University of today. It is the second oldest continuously run university in the world and has long been regarded as the foremost institution in the Islamic world for the study of Sunni theology and sharia.
Architecturally, Al-Azhar is a palimpsest, merging multiple architectural styles that include everything from Roman and Greek columns to Byzantine mosaics, Mamluk madrasas with marble domes and arabesque motifs.
The central courtyard is surrounded by porticoes and prayer halls that have hosted scholars for over a millennium.
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