Minaret of the Mosque

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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Tsingoni Mosque, located on the island of Mayotte, is the oldest active mosque in France, with origins dating back at least to the sixteenth century. It was built of coral stone and coral lime, typical of Swahilia architecture, and served as a royal mosque when Tsingoni was the capital of the Sultanate of Mayotte. His sculpted coral mihrab, dated 1538, was commanded by the Shirazian Sultan Ali bin Mohamed, known as "Haisa", and remains one of the most remarkable elements of the site. The mosque underwent several transformations, notably in the 19th century and during major extensions in 1986, 1991 (construction of the current minaret), and 2004.

The archaeological site reveals an occupation from the 13th century, with traces of a cultural building in the 14th century, contemporary of Notre-Dame de Paris. The mosque, partially destroyed during the Malagasy raids between 1790 and 1820, was restored in the mid-19th century. It also houses Shirazian mausoleums, including the presumed Sultan Haissa, and two other richly decorated graves, probably reserved for his family. These elements illustrate the Shirazian and Swahili cultural influence in Mayotte, as well as the central role of the mosque in spreading Islam in the Comoros archipelago.

The mosque was partially classified as a historic monument in 2012, then fully protected in 2015, including mausoleums and soil, with the exception of recent concrete extensions. Since 2014, an ambitious restoration project, led by the chief architect of the Pierre-Antoine Gatier Historic Monuments, aims to preserve the original structures, such as the mihrab and the coral walls, while removing the incompatible modern additions. Preventive archaeological excavations, carried out in 2023 by INRAP, allowed to better understand the evolution of the site, while the restoration works, financed in part by the Heritage Lotto 2019, seek to restore the mosque's historical aspect, with traditional techniques such as the use of coral lime.

The current minaret, built in 1991, was listed separately in 2017. It symbolizes the adaptation of the site to contemporary needs, while preserving its medieval heritage. The Tsingoni Mosque remains an active place of worship and an identity symbol for Mayotte, represented in particular on a 1998 Mahorian stamp and a €10 coin issued by the Monnaie de Paris in 2011. Its history reflects the cultural exchanges between East Africa, the Arab world and the Indian Ocean, as well as the challenges of preserving a heritage living in a changing island context.

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