Senegal: Moroccan Scholars Celebrate Mawlid with Tijani Brotherhoods

Wednesday 26 August 2026 - 16:02

The spiritual ties between Morocco and Senegal were once again highlighted during the Mawlid Al-Nabawi. Moroccan scholars participated on Monday and Tuesday in the major celebrations held in Tivaouane and Kaolack, two significant centers of the Tijani tradition in Senegal.

Locally known as Gamou, these religious gatherings brought together important Senegalese and foreign delegations, as well as thousands of faithful from various regions of the country and the diaspora.

A Moroccan Presence at Major Gamou Events

The ceremonies gathered Senegalese government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps established in Dakar, as well as religious figures from several countries.

The presence of Moroccan delegations reflects an ancient relationship between the two countries, particularly evident in the religious domain. Exchanges between scholars and leaders of the brotherhoods have, over generations, helped maintain spiritual bridges between Moroccan and Senegalese societies.

Moroccan representatives particularly emphasized the importance of this shared heritage and the role of the Sufi brotherhoods in the history of relations between the two peoples.

In Tivaouane, Tijania at the Heart of Exchanges

In Tivaouane, the Moroccan delegation was led by Mohamed Guennoun Al Hassani, president of the Regional Council of Scholars of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, in the presence of officials from the Moroccan embassy in Dakar.

In his speech, he highlighted the spiritual dimension of Mawlid and the importance of the Tariqa Tijania in transmitting a Sufi Sunni tradition based notably on spiritual education, purification of the soul, and attachment to the prophetic path.

This religious dimension constitutes one of the main points of convergence between the spiritual traditions of the two countries.

In Kaolack, Religious History Takes Center Stage

In Kaolack, Sidi Mohamed Mohieddine, president of the Regional Council of Scholars of Guelmim-Oued Noun, placed the relations between Morocco and the African continent in a broader perspective.

According to him, the ties between the two areas are not limited to economic, political, or social exchanges, nor to geographic proximity. They are also based on a religious and cultural heritage built over several centuries.

He notably recalled the role played by Sufi brotherhoods and zaouias in the dissemination of religious knowledge and the rapprochement of communities.

An Ancient Spiritual Diplomacy

Beyond the religious celebration, Moroccan participation in Gamou reflects a particular dimension of the relations between Morocco and Senegal: that of spiritual affinities.

The Tijania occupies a central place in this history. Its religious networks have facilitated exchanges between scholars, disciples, and institutions of both countries for generations.

The participation of Moroccan scholars in the gatherings of Tivaouane and Kaolack thus allows these ties to be extended in a contemporary framework, while highlighting a shared religious heritage.

These Mawlid events also serve as privileged moments for meetings between religious leaders of both countries, around a spiritual tradition that continues to play an important role in Moroccan-Senegalese relations.