AFRICA: ONE CONTINENT. MANY WORLDS | AFRICAN STORIES | DAKAR

 

Ahmadou Bamba was a holy man 

Ahmadou Bamba (AH-MAH-doo BAM-ba) was a holy man and religious leader whose resistance to French colonial rule is legendary in our country. We honor Ahmadou Bamba as the greatest marabout (MARE-a-BOO), or holy man, and so he is always referred to with the respectful title of Cheikh (SHAKE).

 Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba founded the Mourides, our country's most powerful religious order. The Mourides believe that there are many paths to Allah. They tolerate others' beliefs and they stress work and prayer as the twin pillars of their religious order. 

Religious Worship in Senegal 

The objects displayed here are just a few of the many items associated with religious worship in Senegal today. Some items - such as the men's prayer shawl and the incense in a hammered aluminum bowl - are manufactured in other coutries. Others - such as the prayer beads, the wooden stand designed to hold a Qur'an for reading, and the reverse glass paintings portraying Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba - are special items made in Senegal.

 

Reverse Glass Painting
Studio of Mor Gueye
Glass, acrylic paints, cardboard
Dakar, Senegal
1995 
 
Incense burner / jar and lid
Clay
Dakar, Senegal
1995 
 
  Prayer boards
Wood
Dakar, Senegal
1995 
  Centennial Sticker
Dakar, Senegal
1995 
Men's Prayer Shawl and Qur'an Stand
Made in Syria
1994
 
Prayer Beads
Blue and white plastic beads, cotton cord
Dakar, Senegal
1995 
 
  Reverse Glass Painting
Studio of Mor Gueye
Glass, acrylic paints, cardboard
Dakar, Senegal
1995 
  Religious books
Printed in Dakar, Senegal
1995 
 
This page is part of the "AFRICA: One Continent. Many Worlds." web site. All photographic images and text contained within these web pages ARE COPYRIGHTED and may not be commerically reproduced, or utilized in any manner, without the prior written consent of the owner. Select this text for more information.

 

jca