The Secret of Bani
In the small village of Bani, situated 240 km from the capital Ouagadougou towards Gorom-Gorom in the northern part of Burkina Faso, life appears much like any other village in the Sahel region. By day, the villagers engage in various activities—talking on the streets, children working in the fields or playing, shepherds tending their cattle, and families cultivating crops like millet, sorghum, sesame, and peanuts. Women carry heavy buckets of water on their heads, men pray, traders sell their goods, and soldiers pass by. Some people rest in the shade to escape the hottest part of the day, undisturbed by the playful shouts and laughter of children.
Religious devotion is a significant part of life in Bani. The village boasts numerous mosques, but none is as revered as the Grande Mosquée, or the Great Mosque, known locally as the House of God. This mosque, situated in the heart of the village, is built in the traditional banco style—using mud bricks in the Sudano-Sahelian architectural tradition. Local legends claim its origins date back to the thirteenth century, with a significant reconstruction occurring in the 1980s. This reconstruction was guided by Al Hadj Mohamed, considered a divine messenger by many locals. He also envisioned and oversaw the construction of seven additional mosques on a nearby hill, completed in 1986. These mosques are arranged to symbolize a praying Muslim with raised arms, each representing a part of the body: head, shoulders, hands, and feet.
The eight mosques play vital roles during major Islamic festivals such as Ramadan, Tabaski (the Feast of the Sacrifice), and the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. However, another sacred site in the area connects these temples and the village’s daily and nightly activities. At night, when the village sleeps, a group known as the truth seekers gathers in front of the prophet's house near the Great Mosque. Here, they perform a unique ritual called Talili, which, according to their beliefs, holds the key to freeing the soul and unlocking the final door to the House of God. They believe that by embracing the holy truth and practicing Talili, one can reach the ultimate destination: a home in heaven.
