Case file · Sacred site
The shrine of Sheikh Hussein in Bale
The tomb of Sheikh Nur Hussein, a Muslim saint traditionally dated to the 12th or 13th century, is the goal of one of the great pilgrimages of the Horn of Africa, made twice a year by Oromo and other Muslims.
1200 CE · 7.75, 40.70 · status: legend
The account
Pilgrims carry forked staffs and chant on the road. Legends tell of the saint's miracles: springs he opened, wild animals he tamed and a cave where he prayed. The walled complex holds the tombs of the saint and his family, and the pilgrimage blends Islamic and older Oromo practice. The year is the traditional date of the saint and is approximate.
The sceptical view
The saint's life is known from oral tradition and later hagiographies; the dates are uncertain.