On a hillside in the Tigray highlands stands what is often called Africa's first mosque, where the Prophet's early followers found refuge with a Christian king.
In the 7th century, a group of the Prophet Muhammad's early followers fled persecution in Mecca and crossed the Red Sea. The Christian king of Aksum, remembered as al-Najashi, gave them shelter.
Some of them stayed and died here, and their tombs lie beside the mosque at Negash, about an hour north of Mekelle.
The site is often described as the first mosque in Africa and is an important place of pilgrimage for Ethiopian Muslims.
It was damaged during the 2020 war and has since been rebuilt.
Combine with the rock churches on the same road.
About an hour through the highlands past Wukro.
The mosque stands on the hillside above the road.
Remove shoes and visit outside prayer times.
The burial place of the early refugees.
Continue to the churches of eastern Tigray.
Hire a car with driver or take a minibus towards Adigrat and ask for Negash.
A caretaker usually shows visitors round; a donation is welcome.
Photographs from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels under their licences.
