An overview of the mystical Sufi path of the Baye Fall in Senegal, West Africa: a path open to everyone.
Aba Diop, a griot from an unbroken line of griots, travels to Ndande Fall in the heart of Senegal to experience a Baye Fall gathering to honor the birthday of the late lineage holder, Cheikh Fall Bayou Goor, the father of the current lineage holder Serigne Cheikh Ndiguel Fall.
As griot, he is the cultural lineage-holder deeply rooted in drumming circles as both ceremony and communication. Aba also speaks about what it means to be Baye Fall: a non-proselytizing branch of mystical Sufism founded in the 1800’s in Senegal, West Africa.
The Baye Fall are so-named for the founder, “baye = father” Ibrahima Fall (1855-1930), born to an influential family in the kingdom of Cayor, in a place called Ndiaby Fall. He had a spiritual awakening upon meeting his teacher Aamadu Bàmba Mbàkke (aka Serigne Touba, b 1850-d 1927), the mystic saint founder of the Mourides, a devotional school “tariqa” [etymology = “path” in Arabic] of Sunni Islam founded in 1883.
When Cheikh Ibrahima Fall met Amadou Bamba, he renounced his possessions and entered into deep study and relationship with this “master teacher” of the faith. Cheikh Ibra became a popular leader during French colonial rule, and established the Baye Fall order whose peaceful devotion to “hard work as prayer” successfully resisted colonization without war, strengthened the local economies through agro-religious innovation, and rejected materialism in favor of strong collective support.
The Baye Fall are known for their generosity, creativity, relaxed attitude, and open hearts. Music, prayer, drumming, song, and devotion to learning from spiritual teachers (“marabouts”) are emphasized more than strict adherence to ideology.
Anyone can be Baye Fall.
It is a matter of desire and devotion, not to the outward signals that promise the “paradise” of traditional Islam, but to living in a way that brings paradise on Earth, now. To desire to walk the path that leads to truth. During pilgrimage to Touba, the Baye Fall do not fast, instead they collectively feed everyone. It is a humble faith full of arresting beauty and deep care.
For anyone who wants to support this work, or is curious about a more in-depth discovery of Baye Fall, please join Aba on Patreon where there is more for those who desire to connect with the griot services of personalized prayers and drum rhythms, the sacred music of sabar drum and dance, as well as the ways these elements present themselves in the modern world of a touring musician:
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