Burkinese Muslim Holy Book: "Walaja" Qur'an Board

This Qur'an board from Burkina Faso is called a "walaja." This "walaja", was painted by a marabout, an Islamic religious leader. The verses from the Qur'an are meant to be read, not re-written, on this same board. The reverse side is painted also.

Learning to read and write in many Muslim schools is a process of memorizing all 114 chapters of the Qur'an. This is done by copying pages of the Qur'an, sometimes on wooden tablets with quill pens dipped in ink made from charcoal and gum arabic. The very devout saved the water used to wash off the words since it contained the Holy Word. Students also recite the passages over and over. A boy becomes a man in many Muslim societies when he recites verses during a ceremony during adolescence.

Traditional Islamic education involves religious study, which embraces not only theology but also law and history, as well as classical Arabic language. Islamic education may also include the study of logic, mathematics and sometimes Arab writers and poets. Lower education stresses memorizing the Qur'an, curriculum religion, Arabic and arithmetic; higher education is in the form of a running discussion.
Source:
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/african-artifact-islamic-hand-written-koran www.factsanddetails.com/world.php?itemid=1427&catid=55&subcatid=359 www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ www.fordham.edu/halsall/islam/islamsbook.asp http://www.nigerbend.com/catalog.php?loc=8 s335942851.onlinehome.us/FirstpaintedWalajaKoranicschoolboardMossiMossifromBurkinaFaso_317_itm.php