Touba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Touba توبا
City
The Great Mosque of Touba
Touba Location in Senegal
Country	Senegal
Region	Diourbel
Department	Mbacké
Elevation	35 m (115 ft)
Population  (2023 census)
• Total	1,120,824
Time zone	UTC±0 (Greenwich Mean Time)

Touba is a city in central Senegal. Its name means 'Felicity' in Hassaniya Arabic and 'Tuubaa' in Wolof. With over 1.1 million people in 2023, it is the second largest city in Senegal, after Dakar. Touba is considered a holy city for the Mouridism religious group. It is also where their founder, Shaikh Ahmadou Bàmba Mbàcke, is buried. A very large mosque stands next to his tomb. It was finished in 1963.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Touba

The exact meaning of the name Touba is not fully known. Some people think it comes from the Arabic word tawba, which means 'repentance'. The name also sounds like Ṭūbā, a special tree in Paradise in Islam. In a spiritual sense, this tree means wanting to become closer to God. However, it is most likely that the name Touba means 'blessing'.

Touba's Beginnings: A Holy City's History

Touba started as a small village. It became important because of Shaikh Aamadu Bàmba Mbàkke (1853-1927). He is also known as "Cheikh Amadou Bamba." It is said that he had a special vision under a big tree in Touba. This vision made the place very significant. In Arabic, ṭūbā means "happiness" or "bliss." It reminds people of the good things in the afterlife.

Aamadu Bàmba founded Touba in 1887. For 40 years, Touba stayed a small, quiet place. It only grew much larger after he passed away and was buried at the site of the Great Mosque. Touba and the nearby town of Mbacké (started by Aamadu Bàmba's great-grandfather in 1796) together form Senegal's second largest urban area. This area is only smaller than the capital city, Dakar.

Touba's Special Rules

Touba is a very special and sacred place in Senegal. It has its own unique rules. The city is mainly managed by a religious leader called a khalīfa-general and his helpers. This means that the usual government services of Senegal do not fully control Touba.

Because of its special status, Touba is like a free-trade zone. This means that some goods brought into Touba, especially from nearby Gambia, do not have the usual government taxes. This unique way of running the city shows an old tradition in West Africa. It allows religious communities to create special areas where they can live according to their beliefs.

During the annual Grand Magal of Touba pilgrimage, government officials from Senegal visit Touba. This shows that the government respects Touba's unique status and the importance of the Mouride community in Senegal.

Where is Touba? The City's Location

Touba's Place in Senegal

Touba is located in the middle of Senegal. It is connected to the city of Mbacké, forming one large urban area.

Touba's Weather

Touba has a warm climate. It can be either a tropical wet and dry climate or a hot semi-arid climate. This depends on where the weather is measured in the city.

Mouridism: The Spiritual Heart of Touba

Touba is the holy city of Mouridism. Aamadu Bàmba Mbàkke, a very famous Sufi leader from Senegal, was more than just a spiritual teacher. He also wanted to help society. He aimed to guide people back to the "Straight Path" of Islam and away from the influences of colonial rule. The city of Touba was very important in achieving these goals.

Life in Touba is deeply connected to Muslim practices and Islamic learning. Every year, a huge pilgrimage called the Grand Magal of Touba takes place. About two million people come to Touba for this event. Most of them are Mourides, traveling from all over Senegal and even from places like Europe and America. Smaller pilgrimages also happen throughout the year.

For Mourides, Touba is a sacred place. The Mouride religious group manages their "capital city" on their own. This means that regular government services do not run the city. Touba is an area with special legal status within Senegal. The Mouride order controls almost every part of the city's life and growth. This includes things like education, healthcare, water supply, public works, markets, land, and building new areas.

The Great Mosque of Touba

Inside the Great Mosque of Touba

At the center of Touba is its Great Mosque. Many believe it is one of the largest mosques in Africa. It was finished in 1963 and has been made even bigger and more beautiful over time. The mosque has five tall minarets and three large domes. This is where Amadou Bamba, who started the Mouride brotherhood, is buried.

The mosque's central minaret is 87-meter (285 ft) tall. It is called Lamp Fall and is one of Senegal's most famous landmarks. The name Lamp Fall honors Sheikh Ibrahima Fall, who was one of Bamba's most important followers. Many tourists and people who come to worship visit the mosque.

Near the mosque are the tombs of Aamadu Bàmba's sons. They were the leaders, or caliphs, of the Mouride order. Other important places in the city center include a library, the Caliph's meeting hall, a holy "Well of Mercy," and a cemetery. Serigne Mountakha Mbacké is the current leader of the Mourides. He is the eighth Caliph of Mouridism. He lives in a large building facing the Mosque, just like the leaders before him.

Famous People from Touba

• Amadou Bamba (1853-1927), a Muslim Sufi religious leader.

See also

In Spanish: Touba (Senegal) para niños