Medina Baay Research Association

I spent the month of June in Senegal doing research, primarily in Dakar and partly in Medina Baay Kaolack, Ñooro, Tayba Ñaseen, Kóosi Mbittéyeen, and Daaru Mbittéyeen. The main purpose was to finish the research for my book on women in the Faydah, and thanks to my great collaborators I was able to meet and interview several woman leaders I had never met before in addition to revisiting many whom I have known for years. Some photos we took can be found here. (Photos from last year's research can be found in the Senegal 2009 set.)

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This year's Medina Baay Gàmmu (Mawlid), scheduled for this coming Friday night, is set to be unlike any other in history, with visiting heads of state and the inauguration of the newly renovated mosque. However, amidst all the good news, Sheex Baay Caam has just informed me that the man who has led the chanting at the Gàmmu for decades and was to lead it again this year has just died. Baabakar Caam (Babacar Thiam), blind since his birth in a Séeréer-speaking Ñoominka fishing village, became a renowned Islamic school teacher, spiritual guide, and the most formidable Taalibe Baay Sufi chanter. Personally picked by Baay Ñas and educated by Baay Ñas's blind cousin, Usmaan Faati Jàllo Ñas, Baabakar Caam was the indispensable element at any major Taalibe Baay religious meeting for decades. He will be buried today (Wednesday, February 24) in Medina Baay, Kaolack.

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Un interview avec Séyda Mariyama Ibrayima Ñas a été diffusé sur Al-Jazeera il y a deux jours (le 24 octobre 2009). La transcription et le vidéo, tous les deux en Arabe, sont disponibles ici. Voilà mes traductions française et anglaise.

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Voici des photos de quelques unes des femmes muqaddams avec qui nous avons discuté à Dakar et à Kaolack. (Pour lire quelques observations que j'ai faites à propos des dirigeantes religieuses, voir cet article.)

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