Wapauwe Old Mosque: Surviving six centuries through customary rules

The Wapauwe Old Mosque in Maluku is believed to have once been moved from the peak of Mount Wawane to Kaitetu in a single night. The event occurred hundreds of years ago when residents descended to the coast following the arrival of European traders.

The story sounds like a legend. However, the construction of the mosque, which was established in 1414, does indeed allow the building to be dismantled and reassembled in a short time.

The old mosque is located in Kaitetu Village, Leihitu District, Central Maluku Regency, about an hour’s drive from Ambon. From Fort Amsterdam and the beach, it is only about 300 metres away.

To reach the mosque, one must pass through a residential area before being greeted by a gate and white fence bearing the words “Mesjid Tua Wapaue Kaitetu.”

The mosque appears simple. The core of the building measures 10 by 10 metres. Inside, historical artefacts sit alongside items commonly found today. When ANTARA visited the mosque some time ago, a green carpet that was still soft and clean covered the floor.

While looking around the interior of the mosque, a man wearing a black peci hat approached with a friendly smile. He was the Raja of Kaitetu, M. Armin Lumaela, who then recounted the history and various aspects of the old mosque.

“The Wapauwe Old Mosque is one of the historical sites of the journey of Islam’s arrival, not only in Maluku but in the entire archipelago,” he said.