The Tidjani, aka Tijaans, Tidianes, is a Muslim brotherhood of West Africa and a (sufi tarika), particularly Senegal. Tidjani attach a large importance to culture and education, and favor the individual adhesion of the disciple.
Sidi Ahmed al-Tidjani (1737-1815), aka the Tidjania, was the founder of the Tidjana confraternity. al-Tidjani was born in Algeria in 1737; he died in Fez (in present-day Morocco) in 1815. At Fouta-Toro the expansion of the confraternity is due to el-Hajj Omar Tall (1794-1864), who returned from Mecca with the quality of Calife of Tidjanes for the Sudan. (Note: el-Hajj is an honorofic given to any Muslim who has completed hajj).
In the Wolof country, the credit for the spreading of the Tidjani Order is given to el-Hajj Malick Sy , born in 1855 near to Dagana. In 1902, he installed its rules in Tivaouane , which became a education center for Islamic culture under his influence Upon Malick's death in 1922, his son Ababacar Sy became the first Calife. Mansour Sy , his brother, committed suicide (although he lived for four days after the attempt). Serigne Mansour Sy became the present Calife in 1997, upon the death of Abdoul Aziz Sy .
The Gamou of Tivaouane gathers many followers each year. The "house" of Tivaouane is not the only confraternity in Senegal. Another, centered in Kaolack, has as its founder Abdoulaye Niasse ; there is also one in Medina-Gounass (to the east of the Niokolo Koba park) created by Mamadou Saidou Ba . Another, near Thies, is the Thienaba, founded by the disciple of a famous marabout of Fouta, Amadou Sekhou. See also Mouridia. (note: this paragraph might go in Muslim brotherhoods of Senegal)
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