In a secular Senegal deeply marked by the influence of Sufi brotherhoods, religious fervor often intertwines with the political agenda. The historical figures of Senegalese Islam are now at the heart of sovereignist discourses, as political elites draw from their legacy to shape a national identity free from foreign influences while securing the support of religious dignitaries.

From Bassirou Diomaye Faye to Ousmane Sonko, Senegal’s political elites are increasingly tapping into the history of these religious leaders to forge a sovereignty-driven national identity. While tensions persist between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko—now President of the National Assembly—both share a key conviction: the necessity of aligning with religious leaders. 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 unifying forces » amid regime crises.

During his visit, Ousmane Sonko took an ideological step further by claiming the legacy of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, founder of the Mouride brotherhood and a prominent figure in peaceful resistance against French colonizers. The current President of the National Assembly drew a parallel between his own policies and the model championed by the marabout, renowned for refusing French funding to « guarantee the independence of believers’ communities ».

A nationalist revival through religious lens

This appropriation is no coincidence. 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 the great figures of Senegalese Islam through an anticolonial and political lens ».

This movement highlights not only Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba but also El Hadj Oumar Tall, a leader of the Tidjaniya brotherhood, 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 complexity. Some religious leaders, despite their anticolonial stances, later facilitated the recruitment of tirailleurs for France. A nuance that today’s youth, with their more independent mindset, appear ready to acknowledge.

Mamadou Fall, editor-in-chief of the upcoming General History of Senegal, emphasizes the goal of integrating this religious pantheon into school textbooks while addressing these complexities. He notes that some of these anticolonial heroes are also perceived in other regions as « violent conquerors who arrived sword in hand ».