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They have dreadlocks, play drums, dance and sing. But they are not RasTafari.
They are Black Muslims belonging to the Senegalese Sufi tradition. Instead of
Haille Selasse, these dreadlocked Muslims follow the teachings of Cheikh Ibra
Fall, referring to themselves as Baye Fall.
The Baye Fall Movement is a branch of Muridism (Muridiyya tariqa), a large Sufi
order mainly spread in Senegal and Gambia, with its headquarter in the holy city
of Touba. The Muridiyya was founded in 1883 in Senegal by Cheikh Amadou
Bamba (1850-1927) also known as Serign Touba a Muslim mystic and
spiritual leader who wrote many poems and works on prayer, meditation and
Quranic studies and whose approach became famous for his strong emphasis on
work.
Cheikh Amadou Bamba opposed French colonialism through a non-violent form of
protest known as jihad akbar (great struggle) which focused on preaching,
learning and fearing God, rather than fighting. The Baye Fall movement itself was
formed by one of the most known disciples of Bamba, Cheikh Ibrahima Fall
(1855-1930), a legendary figure, a great worker, with very strong faith in God
and who was said to have conversations with spirits during the night.
Due to his strong commitment to work and to God, Cheikh Amadou Bamba gave
Ibrahima Fall the permission not to perform the required five daily prayers and
not to fast during Ramadan since hard work is like a continuous prayer.
This has brought some controversies inside the Muridiyya and the Muslim world
as the Baye Fall have often been accused of not being true Muslims.
Baye Falls are not allowed to own anything and must work the whole day for their
marabout. Throughout the night they chant their zhikr, the remembrance of
God, a typical Sufi practice. They often wear colorful robes, big ebony necklaces
with special symbols such as the spoon and the sticks, and they dance while
playing the sabar, a typical Senegalese drum. Some also wear big leather
necklaces with pictures of their marabouts.
In recent years there have been some problems inside the movement due to
certain individuals who dress like Baye Fall, claim to be part of the brotherhood
but behave in ways that are not considered acceptable by the Brotherhood.
These misfits sometimes act violently, drink alcohol, smoke and do not work.
They have been nicknamed Baye faux (fake Baye in French) and are not only
seen with suspicion and disapproval by the real Baye Fall, but also considered a
problem since, with their wrong behavior, they run the risk of bringing a bad
reputation to the real Baye Fall as many people, especially in Europe where the
Baye Fall are widespread, dont know how to distinguish between the real ones
and the fake. Real Baye Falls are peaceful, educated and humble people, who
have perfect knowledge of the Koran.
An interesting peculiarity of the Baye Fall is the removal of all Arabic influences
from the Muslim religion, since they are very proud of their African and Wolof
tradition. They often say we are Muslims, not Arabs. Indeed Ibrahima Fall
himself was part of the Garmi nobility linked to the Wolof Thieddo warrior
tradition, and that is where many of the Baye Fall elements such as the
dreadlocks, the drumming, the multicolored robes, the charms and the sticks
stem from.
The Baye Fall movement is a perfect example of how the fusion of religion with
local cultures and traditions bring about new interesting forms of spiritual
expressions.