Senegal
1960–present CE
West-African republic independent from France in 1960.
☾ The Coming of Islam
Trade, the Almoravids and the Sufi brotherhoods
Islam entered Senegal along the trans-Saharan trade and through the Almoravid sphere from the 11th century, but its deep spread came through the great Sufi brotherhoods — above all the Tijāniyya and the Senegalese-founded Murīdiyya of Amadou Bamba.
☾ Religious Composition
An overwhelmingly Sunni society led by Sufi orders
Senegalese are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslims of the Mālikī school, with religious life strongly organised around the Sufi brotherhoods — the Murīd centre of Touba is a major pilgrimage site — alongside a small Christian minority.
Demographic shares are approximate.
At a glance
| Type | State |
|---|---|
| Dynasty | — |
| Region | W. Africa |
| Capital | Dakar |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Ended | extant |
| State religion | Islam (majority, secular) |