The Celebration of Mawlid in Timbuktu
The readers of the morrcans family of Timbuktu
The advent of Prophet Muhammad (Peace upon him) is an important event celebrated with pomp in the Muslim world and more significantly in the fabled desert city of Timbuktu. Since the time of Abdul Al Kaissi Tawati, a Timbuktu scholar of the 16th century, the birth of the Prophet Mohammed is celebrated and commonly known as ‘’Mawlid’’ or ‘’Al moudou’’ in Timbuktu songhoye dailect.
It is a time of great pomp and mobilizes all the muslim community of the city and the region, and those of the Timbuktu’s diaspora worldwide. this makes it a time of true religious tourism around mosques , mausoleums of saints and many manuscript libraries. The Mawlid is celebrated annually on the 12th day for the birth and the 18th day for the baptism during the lunar month “rabiyou lawal”.
Readers of the sidi yehia mosque
Preparations for the festival begin with the appearance of the moon from the previous month by researching panegyrics on the sites of reading points of mosques and Zawiya. At the Kunta (south) of the Mosque of Sidi yehia and Tacaboundou among hal- Araouane. Just before the birth fest, reading points are cleaned, trimmed and praised for hosting the night .
readers are dressed in their finest traditional clothes and wearing their finest hairstyles. The readings of the birth are preceded by dinners offered by leading chiefs reading at various homes. These dinners are banquets in honor of the readers and notables of the districts concerned.
The readings of the birth continue until about 3am. At 3.30am finishes that of Sidi yehia by where people come together to lead the Cheick of Badjindé , Cadi of the city to his home where is “Fatiha” –final birth.
the Imam of the mosque of djingareyber, timbuktu
The Feast of the Baptism Two days before the baptism is a competition session between readers of Sankore, Badjindé, Djingareyber and “Bobo Houme” at Sankore north of Timbuktu.
Since the birth fest, the readings of baptism on the 18th night of the lunar month are preceded by a meal (dinner) offered by the Cheick and religious leader. The reading sessions are run on all reading points The reading sessions will continue throughout the day.
Readers of Sankore
The final consecration will take place at the Sankore site where readers will converge at different points for the fence to fence panegyrics and final Fatiha before the great prayer on the esplanade of the Mosque of Sankore. The festive closing day of baptism is marked by the accompaniment of a prince of the traditional chiefs on horseback and music to the tribal chief who offers a dinner on the night called ‘’ Tanaré”.
El Hadj Djitteye
