Like every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims converged for the Grand Magal towards Touba, holy city for the brotherhood, about 200 kilometers east of Dakar. This Wednesday, September 14, on the eve of the festival, some were still looking for a means of transport to get there from the capital.
Public holiday this Thursday, September 15 in Senegal, on the occasion of the Grand Magal de Touba. Khassaides, or Mouride songs, resound in this bus leaving for Touba: “ It sets the mood “, explains Mohammed Lamine Thiam, 31 years old, very enthusiastic: “ Normally I was supposed to be there the day before yesterday or yesterday, but I was sick. Since I was 7 years old, I never miss the Magal. It is absolutely necessary”.
Many pilgrims left several days ago. At the Beaux-Maraîchers bus station, there is therefore no longer the embarrassment of choice. Awa Bousso took place in a minibus: “ I am leaving today for Touba because of work. The ticket is very expensive, 8,000 francs”. The trip costs 8,000 CFA francs, or just over 12 euros, compared to the usual 5,000 francs. Sitting in the back, Modou Diop, 19, only took a small bag for the trip: ” I was in Touba. I came back to Dakar because I had an emergency and there I no longer have a vehicle that can take me. Therefore. I had to take that vehicle.
No traffic jams in Dakar
Mamadou Coulibaly, bus driver, is about to hit the road: “There are a lot of traffic jams. During wintering, it is too complicated. When it rains, there are a lot of accidents. You can take up to 4 hours, everyone is running to get to Touba”.
And during this time, no traffic jams in the capital. The rush to Touba also delights Dakar motorists. The Grand Magal is the most important festival of the Muslim brotherhood of the Mourides. It commemorates the departure in exile in Gabon of its founder, Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, in 1895.
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