In a secular Senegal deeply marked by the influence of Sufi brotherhoods, religious fervor often intertwines with political agendas. The historical figures of Senegalese Islam are now central to sovereignist discourse, as political elites draw from their legacy to forge a national identity free from foreign interference while securing the allegiance of religious leaders.
Political leaders embrace the anticolonial legacy of Sufi guides
From Bassirou Diomaye Faye to Ousmane Sonko, political figures are mining the history of these spiritual leaders to craft a distinctly African development model. Despite tensions between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko—now President of the National Assembly—they share a common conviction: the necessity of aligning with religious dignitaries.
Just days before the Grand Magal pilgrimage on July 26, the head of state visited Touba to meet Serigne Mountakha Mbacké, the general khalif of the Mouride brotherhood. Four days later, Ousmane Sonko followed suit. These institutional pilgrimages underscore the immense influence of these spiritual guides, who remain « one of the nation’s foundational pillars » amid regime crises.
Ousmane Sonko invokes the legacy of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba
During his visit, Ousmane Sonko took an ideological step forward by claiming the legacy of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, founder of the Mouride brotherhood and a towering figure in peaceful resistance against French colonists. The National Assembly president drew a parallel between his own policies and the model once championed by the marabout, renowned for rejecting French funding to « guarantee the independence of believers’ communities ».
Nationalist revival through a religious lens
This resurgence is not happenstance. It reflects a broader intellectual movement rediscovering the anticolonial past of religious leaders. Cheikh Gueye, a researcher and Mouride disciple, explains this phenomenon: « More and more people are rediscovering Senegalese Islamic figures through an anticolonial and political prism ».
The movement highlights not only Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba but also El Hadj Oumar Tall, a Tidjaniya leader, and Thierno Souleymane Baal, who founded a theocratic state in the 18th century. These figures are championed by sovereignist activists—such as those in the Frapp movement—as « sources of political inspiration without sacralizing them ».
However, this unifying national narrative sometimes clashes with historical complexities. Some religious leaders later facilitated the recruitment of tirailleurs for France, a duality that today’s youth—with their independent mindset—seem prepared to acknowledge.
According to Mamadou Fall, editor of the upcoming General History of Senegal, the goal is to integrate this religious pantheon into school curricula while addressing these nuances. He notes that some anticolonial heroes are also perceived in other regions as « violent conquerors who arrived armed with sabers ».
