The Tomb of Khatmiya Al Hassan Al Mirghani

There is a Sufi sect in a town at the base of an unusual mountain range that sits on the border of two fragile lands. A Sufi holy man is buried there, inside this tomb with an open domed roof, the locals say the rain does not ever fall inside. There is an old mosque next to it, again with no roof. The mosque was built 150 years ago by Italian colonials in a peace-building gesture, attempting to win the support of the Sufis. Peace was left broken and they left before the dome roof could be constructed. The locals are awaiting a man named Osman to arrive and rebuild it. Next to the mosque is another tomb, of a whole family, the family of the Sufi. His daughter Fatima has her own tomb with a green door. An old lady caretaker who lived there saw me and said I must place my whole hand on the door to Fatima's tomb. She said this would protect me and bring me luck. My local friends informed me this was rare for her to tell a foreigner to do this and that the old woman had seemingly taken to me. The setting sun warmed the brick work orange and at dusk it was almost difficult to separate mosque from mountains. They were as one.. offering a space of peace, solitude and eternal rest. But a sense of waiting still permeates.