September 11 Digital Archive

Senegalese progress evident in Harlem

Title

Senegalese progress evident in Harlem

Source

born-digital

Media Type

article

Created by Author

yes

Described by Author

no

Date Entered

2002-08-01

VTMBH Article: Edition

30

VTMBH Article: Article Order

4

VTMBH Article: Title

Senegalese progress evident in Harlem

VTMBH Article: Author

Olayinka Fadahunsi

VTMBH Article: Publication

The African

VTMBH Article: Original Language

English

VTMBH Article: Translator

VTMBH Article: Section

briefs

VTMBH Article: Blurb

VTMBH Article: Keywords

VTMBH Article: Body

Visual echoes of Touba and its Great Mosque can be found all over Harlem, where Senegalese immigrants have settled in increasing numbers over the last decade.

Several West African businesses bear the Toubas name, perpetuating the Islamic sect Mouride brotherhoods celebrated work ethic. Fulfilling Mouride founder Cheikh Ahmadou Bambas maxim, Pray to God as if you will die tomorrow, work as if you will never die, Mourides have opened import and export businesses, textile outlets, and book stores. (Bamba, who lived in Senegal from 1850 to 1927, was a scholarly religious leader amongst the Toucoleur and other Senegalese people. He is the founder of the Mouride form of Islamic worship.) The groups mandated devotion to business development has been credited with much of the economic revitalization of Harlems 116th Street.

Accounts of Mouride economic influence vary. Some sources estimate that the group owns up to 80 percent of the businesses in Senegal. Although not dominant in their new home, Mourides have thoroughly entrenched themselves in Harlems economic landscape.

According to the faiths philosophy, financial security gained though hard work is a form of divine devotion. Despite this, some Mourides are offended by outside attempts to connect the religion to the economic activities of its followers in the United States.

There is no link between the Mosque at Touba and businesses here, said a representative of the Touba Khayyat bookstore in Harlem who identified himself only as Ousmane. Mouridism is a sect of Islam. It is just like if you have a Christian businessdoes that mean the Pope owns it?

Nevertheless, contributions from successful Mourides at home and abroad are believed to pay for the extensive upkeep and renovations on the Mosque, which is widely regarded as the largest Islamic pilgrimage site in of West Africa. Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, is the largest Islamic pilgrimage site.

The most easily distinguishable face of the Mouride Brotherhood seen on the streets of Harlem belongs to the young men of the Baye Fall. Although their long-locked hair often leads Harlemites to mistakenly assume that they are Rastafarians or fashion-conscious African-Americans, members of the Baye Fall brotherhood are followers of Cheikh Fall, also known as The Lampbecause of the radiating devotion he felt for Cheikh Bambawas the first to convert Mouridism.

In some circles The Lamp is also the name used to refer to the prophet Mohammed. Fall is remembered for working tirelessly in the service of Cheikh Bamba, and his followers are reputed to do the same for their marabouts in his memory. The African music star Cheikh Lo is a disciple of the Baye Fall, and often discusses the brotherhoods influence on his life in his interviews.

Their ascetic devotion often excludes Baye Fall followers from polite society, but increasing numbers of young Senegalese have turned to the group in recent years, spurring something of a renaissance in Senegalese art and music.

VTMBH Article: Line Breaks

1

VTMBH Article: Date

2002-08-01

VTMBH Article: Thumb

VTMBH Article: Article File

VTMBH Article: Hit Count

137

Citation

“Senegalese progress evident in Harlem,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed November 23, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/1346.