🕌 Great Mosque of Touba
Senegal
About This Sacred Site
The Great Mosque of Touba is the spiritual center of the Mouride Sufi brotherhood, one of the most influential Islamic orders in West Africa. Founded by Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba in the early 20th century, the mosque anchors the holy city of Touba. The annual Grand Magal pilgrimage, commemorating Bamba's exile, draws millions of devotees to the city, making it one of the largest annual religious gatherings in Africa. The mosque's towering minaret dominates the skyline of this car-free sacred city.
Key Facts
- •The annual Grand Magal pilgrimage draws over 3 million people
- •Founded by Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, the Mouride brotherhood's spiritual leader
- •The mosque was completed in 1963 and has been expanded several times
- •Touba is the second-largest city in Senegal, built entirely around the mosque
- •Alcohol and tobacco are banned in the holy city of Touba
Location
Coordinates: 14.8550, -15.8831
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