Touba

Our third week started out with a lecture on religion in Senegal. Then on Wednesday we traveled to the holy city of Touba where we toured the main Mosque of the Mouride brotherhood. The Mouride brotherhood is an Islamic Sufi order that was founded in 1883 in Senegal by Amadou Bamba. Millions of Senegalese and international members of the faith travel to Touba every year. After the mosque we were hosted by the grandson of the current calif (leader) of the Mouride Brother, Serigne Sidi Al Moukhtar Mbacke. Leadership is a matter of lineage, so our host was the grandson of the grandson of Amadou Bamba. We had a fine dinner and were able to ask questions of the Marabout as we lounged in the afternoon heat.