Africa's faithful flock to Mecca

By Mohammed Adow
BBC, Mecca

Thousands of African pilgrims are amongst the two million Muslims who have flocked to the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Pilgrims say the facilities this year have improved

Islam requires that all able-bodied faithful, who can afford to, visit Mecca at least once in their lifetime, to pray at the Kaaba - the most important shrine of the faith.

Over the past few months, some of Africa's estimated 350 million Muslims have been arriving in Mecca to prepare themselves for this spiritual journey.

Alhaji Mandani Kabar Kamara, a pilgrim from Sierra Leone, has been in Mecca for close to a month and says the experience so far has been overwhelming.

"It's wonderful. It's exciting. It's moving. It is very, very touching," he says

"It's very hard to describe to someone about Hajj. The number of people you see... Millions of people from all round the world - white, black - all converging to worship the almighty Allah."

Hard-working cleaners

Most Hajj in the past have been dogged by fatal accidents and stampedes, but this time the Saudi government has gone to huge logistical efforts to ensure the pilgrimage goes well.

I will come back every year Alhaji Abdullahi Isa Pilgrim from Niger What is the Hajj? Send us your Hajj experiences

Security and medical personnel have been deployed to all parts of the Mecca and its surrounding holy sites; and cleaners are working around the clock to pick up litter left by the pilgrims in their wake.

First-time pilgrim Amina Abdullah - a member of parliament from Kenya - says she has been surprised so far.

"I was told to prepare for the worst. So I'm quite impressed," she said.

"Besides the hours spent at the airport the rest of the logistics are very good.

"There's water for everybody and there's space."

People who have made the trip before have told her there is a great improvement, she adds.

Brisk trade

Due to the large number of people worshipping in the Kaaba, Saudi authorities have been forced to close all roads near and around it during prayer time.

Pilgrims are buying sheep to sacrifice at the end of the Hajj

The roads themselves become prayer grounds for the pilgrims overflowing from the mosques' yards.

But it is not all about prayer at Mecca, as there are many pilgrims who mix prayers with business.

Throughout the day hoards of pilgrims from various parts of the world display their wares to fellow pilgrims.

Their goods range from textiles to jewellery.

While some bring in produce from their own countries others retail items bought from within Saudi Arabia.

Rites and rituals

Alhaji Abdullahi Isa from Niger is one of many medicine sellers.

He says he makes money because his many customers are able to try out his products first.

His profits, he says, make the long journey from West Africa each year worthwhile.

Specially trained security forces have been deployed to holy sites

"I have been coming back for the past three years. I will come back every year."

Meanwhile, sheep and goat vendors are doing a brisk trade as pilgrims prepare for the holiday of Eid al-Adha or Feast of the Sacrifice.

This takes place after the pilgrimage, when an animal is sacrificed to commemorate the ram substituted by God when the Prophet Abraham was told to sacrifice his son.

But first the pilgrims are bracing themselves for the most difficult leg of the Hajj, which mainly takes place outside Mecca.

They are praying that during the rites and rituals, no ugly incidents mar their spiritual journey.