Prayers and melodic chants reverberated across Senegal’s Yoff neighborhood, as thousands of Sufi Muslim followers from the Layene brotherhood commemorated the first public appearance of their founder, Seydina Limamou Laye, in 1884.
Dressed in pristine white robes to symbolize purity and equality before God, worshippers filled the streets leading to Yoff’s beachside mosque on Friday.
The gathering, known as “L’Appel,” or “The Call,” marked the 145th anniversary of Seydina Limamou Laye’s controversial declaration as the prophet.
Photo: AP
The Layene brotherhood, while smaller than Senegal’s other Sufi orders, such as the Mouride or Tijan, has gained attention for its distinctive beliefs, including the claim that their founder was a reincarnation of the prophet Mohammed.
“I’ve never seen any Sufi order where the idea of reincarnation is so central as it is with the Layene,” said Cheikh Babou, a University of Pennsylvania history professor who specializes in Sufism in west Africa. “It’s not like anything else in Senegal or elsewhere in the Muslim world.”
As part of the celebrations, worshippers made a pilgrimage to the sacred grotto where Seydina Limamou Laye first retreated for meditation and — according to believers — received divine inspiration. The site remains a powerful symbol of his spiritual awakening and a place of connection between the Layene community and their founder.
His message emphasized that Mohammed had returned in his form as a black man to restore justice and correct societal wrongs, including those caused by slavery. That message of racial equality and spiritual unity continues to resonate with followers today.
“It is a pride for both black and white people, because Seydina Limamou Laye is not the prophet of black people; he is a universal prophet,” said Moussa Lahi, a Layene who attended this year’s events. “So, there are white people, black people, yellow people — everyone. He brought equality among the races.”
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