Askia Mohammed was the first Askia emperor and expanded the
Songhai Empire. As a devoted Muslim, he felt obligated to make his
pilgrimage to Mecca, which he returned from in 1497/8. He brought back with him the materials to make his tomb; all of the mud and wood came from
Mecca. The caravan is said to have consisted of "thousands of camels". It was structured as a house, with several rooms and passageways and was sealed when Askia Mohammed died. Although Askia Mohammed is the only one that was buried in the tomb itself, several other Askias are buried in the courtyard. ==Gallery ==