Amadou Bamba

Senegalese spiritual leader who resisted French colonialism through non-violent education and Islamic revivalism

Amadou Bamba (1853–1927) founded the Mouride Sufi brotherhood in Senegal, uniting over a million followers through his teachings of hard work and spiritual devotion. Despite French colonial imprisonment and exile, he refused armed resistance, instead emphasizing agricultural self-sufficiency and Quranic education. His Tassou' poetry spread his message across West Africa.

Bamba's Résumé de la science divine writings taught that physical labor ('jihad al-kabir') was a form of worship. His establishment of the city Thiès and over 400 schools preserved Wolof culture while modernizing Islamic practice. Today, his legacy influences Senegal's economy through the Mouride work ethic, making him a symbol of cultural resilience against colonialism. The annual Magal pilgrimage draws 3 million devotees to Touba, his spiritual capital.