ṭūbā

July 8, 2023 4:32 PM

'We are the Baye Fall: 5 million pilgrimage to Senegal. (slyt)
posted by clavdivs (3 comments total)

Just in case you’re not comfortable clicking YouTube links without more context, this from the channel info:
“
We Are The Baye Fall follows three extraordinary characters, all dreadlocked Senegalese Muslims identifying as Baye Fall, who join five million followers on a pilgrimage called The Grand Magal. Join characters, Ami, Bara, and Bas, as they embark on a spiritual journey to the holy city of Touba, revealing a kaleidoscopic human spectacle almost completely unreported in the global press.

*French and English closed caption subtitles available
“
posted by Joeruckus at 1:54 AM on July 9, 2023

I feel a lot better for having that insight into institutional kindness. Shared food is the basis of Christian communion too; albeit now less filling.
posted by BobTheScientist at 1:59 AM on July 9, 2023

The Great Mosque of Touba, which you see in the video at several points, has been financed by local donations over the last century or so. It's an example of a building and institution that's "made in Africa" and "made in Senegal"--without influence or interference from Europe, but also without money from Saudi, UAE or other Gulf sources.

As I understand it, people in the "Baye Fall" movement honor Sheikh Ibrahim Fall as a founder, who was himself a disciple of the original Sheikh Bamba. So, Baye Fall adherents trace their heritage back to Sheikh Bamba, but there are other followers of Sheikh Bamba who are not Baye Fall. You see paintings of both Sheikh Bamba and Sheikh Fall next to each other in neighborhoods and towns around Senegal.

The main minaret of the Grand Mosque of Touba is named after Sheikh Fall.
posted by gimonca at 6:22 AM on July 9, 2023 [1 favorite]