We Are The Baye Fall: Pilgrimage of 5 Million in Senegal

We Are The Baye Fall follows three extraordinary characters, all dreadlocked Senegalese Muslims identifying as Baye Fall, who join five million followers on a pilgrimage called The Grand Magal. Join characters, Ami, Bara, and Bas, as they embark on a spiritual journey to the holy city of Touba, revealing a kaleidoscopic human spectacle almost completely unreported in the global press.

*French and English closed caption subtitles available

Modu, a learned Baye Fall who lives under a French colonial cannon on the former slave port of Gorée Island, narrates the fascinating history of The Grand Magal and the story of its founder, Cheikh Amadou Bamba. Bamba was a 19th Century spiritual icon who was banished from Senegal for leading a pacifist Muslim revolution calling for independence against the French. Bamba taught that the way to achieve self-sufficiency is to work hard to help other people. These lessons in non-violent community organisation are still vital to Senegalese identity to this day. The Grand Magal is a large-scale demonstration of this philosophy, as every single one of the five million who arrive to pay tribute to Bamba receive free food and accommodation, provided by the sweat, hard work and service of the Baye Fall.

This annual event brings together an ever-expanding global movement, which offers an alternative way of living to individualist capitalism by putting the values of
equality and unity into positive community action.

*Correction* The Grand Magal commemorates Cheikh Amadou Bamba going into exile, not his return.

*Note: All footage was shot before the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year the pilgrimage will take place on the 6th October.

Follow us on Twitter:

Emanuel Pictures – Ref. 7934

[journeyman]

*Correction:* The Grand Magal commemorates Cheikh Amadou Bamba going into exile, not his return.

[raymondfranklin]

The essence of Islam is Love and Service and the Baye Fall understand this system very well. It is no wonder that the Mūrid Triangle is Love-Service-Wisdom.

[JoeFellaga]

Thank you for that documentary. This is true spirituality : peace and love !

[TheReggaetube]

Great to see this docu - when i was a boy i was kindly received as a Baye Fall guest - it was the time of my life! Thanks for upload.

[raszolile]

I love this....I wish we had such Muslims in South Africa

[NicholasMoskov]

so happy to find this kind of content in english

[fallousene]

Honestly this was one of the best documentaries ever produced by journeyman pictures. I AM astonished!!!! Jerejeuf Serigne Touba!!!!

[bachirNdiaye]

As a Murîd I can say that there are a lot of wrong things (that are not part of Islam and so not part of Muridism or Bay Fallism in this video)
(Please dear Journeyman Pictures and dear muslim brothers take your time and read this)

In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful.

First of all, I salute the efforts given to make this to let people know about the Sheykh and his way. I don’t have doubt that your intention was good.

But as a Murid, disciple of Sheykh Ahmadu Bamba and living in Senegal, I can tell you that there are a lot of things in this video that are wrong (not everything) and are giving a bad image of Muridism in the muslim community, those things are not part of muridism since they’re not part of Islam. Muridism, Baye Fallism are nothing but Islam with nothing more and nothing less.. The Sheykh himself always said to be the “Slave of God and servant of Prophet Muhammad PBUH”. His way is Sharia and Haqiiqa by following Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah PBUH.

Apart of those things, scientifically, there are false informations given in this video and I will take only one of them: the Magal is not for celebrating the Sheykh’s return from exile. The Grand Magal is the recognition of Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba going into exile (which is a trial from Allaah to the Sheikh [“Do the people think that they will be left to say, ‘We believe’ and they will not be tried?" QURAN 29:2]).

So please when you have to do a documentary like this, go and see Muridism authorities, you’ll have all the documentation you need which I REPEAT is nothing but Islam ONLY. Because giving wrong information, giving a bad image about the Sheikh, about Muridism or Baye Fallism is a harm to the Sheikh, his legacy, the Murid community and all the Muslim’s community

[raymondfranklin]

I am proud to be a Baye Fall Murid in the West. JefJed Serin Touba Xaadmoul Rasoul!! Fall Yarm Fall!!! On don les merci a bondieu pour le Cheikh, alhamdolillah!

[djdeckless]

Really interesting subject matter, had never heard of this sect or festival. And enjoyable - great photography and music . Thanks .

[sultanaareefah]

NOTE, The Grand Magal is the recognition of Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba going into exile not his return.

[Lisanalgaib]

The best video I’ve watched for a while. You guys really well illustrated the Baye Fall philosophy.

[kmjones]

I just took my shahadah in February of this year, alhamdulilah. I want to go there to the Grand Magal and bring my brother Adam, inshallah.

[NaturalMuziik]

This is one of my favorite videos..
I watch it every month

[rashad]

This was amazing. I am beginning to research the Baye Fall. This was very insightful.

[bayefall]

That shit is awesome man Ahmadu Bamba forever

[ValentinDrum]

Jerejeuf ! good to see so many brothers and sisters creating the POSITIVE VIBRATION! Praise to Amadou Bamba and Ibra Fall!

[mansamanso]

May Allah bless the people in Senegal ❤️ 🌍

[barbaraemanuel]

Not the traditional view of Muslim pilgrimage. Beautifully filmed and rendered.

[sibelles]

Merci beaucoup pour ce beau documentaire. Such a beautiful and informative documentary. Makes me feel so proud of the Baye and Yaye Fall. Well done