Unit 5B: Abdou Lahad Touré

Videos
Community Images
Pedagogical Activities

Metadata

TitleConversation with Abdou Lahad Touré
InterviewerFallou Ngom
SubjectLife story and education, becoming a professional Ajami poetry singer, leadership of Shaykh Abdou Lahad Mbàkke, history of the preservation of Murid Ajami Archives 
ContentAbdou Lahad Touré (Abdu Lahad Ture in the standard Wolof Latin script orthography) is the most famous contemporary Wolof Ajami singer. He was born in 1960 and raised in the village of Ture-Ngan near Ndànd, in the region of Louga, Senegal. In this interview, Mr. Touré discusses how he became a professional singer of Wolof Ajami poetry thanks to the leadership of the third caliph of the Muridiyya, Serigne Abdou Lahad Mbacké (1914-1989), also known as Sëriñ Abdu Lahad or Abdu Lahat Mbàkke. He shares his first encounter with this Murid leader and the story of how he personally coached him to become specialized in singing the poetry of Sëriñ Mbay Jaxate (1875-1954), one of the most famous Wolof Ajami poets who was a close follower of the founder of the Muridiyya Sufi order, Shaykh Ahmadu Bamba (1853-1927). Abdou Lahad Touré also discusses Caliph Abdou Lahad Mbacké’s pioneering efforts in collecting and recording recitations of Mbay Jaxate’s poems and preserving them for posterity. He highlights how the Murid leader loved Mbay Jaxate’s poems, especially the one where the poet gives him important advice. In Murid communities, Caliph Abdou Lahad is remembered as a visionary leader who built important infrastructures in the city of Touba, including the central library known as Daaray Kaamil and Bibliothèque Cheikhoul Khadim. At the end of the interview, Abdou Lahad Touré recites a poem he composed to honor his beloved leader for his achievements and legacy.
LanguageWolof
ScriptWolof Ajami (locally called Wolofal)
LocationTouba, Senegal
Pedagogical content/applicationIncludes relevant linguistic, stylistic and cultural skills as identified in our assessment guidebook/ ACTFL guidelines
Access condition and copyrightThese materials are subject to copyright and are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License, which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. For use, distribution or reproduction beyond these terms, contact Professor Fallou Ngom (fngom@bu.edu).
ContributorsFallou Ngom, Ablaye Diakite, Daivi Rodima-Taylor, Elhadji Djibril Diagne, Gana Ndiaye, Alison Parker, and Frank Antonelli.
Required citation informationFallou Ngom (PI), Ablaye Diakite, Elhadji Djibril Diagne, Daivi Rodima-Taylor, and other contributors. 2023. “Conversation with Abdou Lahad Touré.” https://sites.bu.edu/ria/wolof/wolof-unit-5b/

Videos

Wolof with English Subtitles

Wolof with Latin Script Subtitles

Community Images

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  • Abdu Lahad Ture mi bokk ci jàngkati Wolofal yi gën a siiw ci Senegaal ak soxnam ca këram ga nekk ca toolam ga fa Tuubaa. || Abdou Lahad Touré, who is among the most famous Wolof Ajami poetry singers in Senegal with his wife in his house located in his farm in Touba.

  • Abdu Lahad Ture tàkk na ndiggam ngir liggéeyi ca toolam ga. || Abdou Lahad Touré has tied [a belt around] his waist (symbol of work ethic) to go work on his farm.

  • Soxna Maymuna Mbàkke, doomi Sëriñ Tuubaa, di kenn ci taalifkati Murid yi. || Mrs. Maïmouna Mbacké, daughter of Serigne Touba (Bamba), one of the Murid poets.

  • Nataalu Sëriñ Saam Ñaŋ (ci càmmooñ) ak Samba Sekk (ci digg bi) ak Fàllu Ngom (ci ndayjoor). || Image of Serigne Sam Niang (on the left), Samba Seck (in the middle), and Fallou Ngom (on the right).

  • Nataalu toolu Abdu Lahad Ture ba ca Tuubaa te mu fay bay limoŋ aki lujum. || Image of Abdou Lahad Touré’s farm in Touba, where he cultivates lemons and vegetables.

  • Nataalu Ablaay Jakite (gëstukat bi féete càmmooñ), Abdu Lahad Ture (jàngkatu Wolofal bi ci digg bi), ak Fàllu Ngom (mi jiite liggéey bi ci ndayjoor). || Image of Ablaye Diakité (the researcher, on the left), Abdou Lahad Touré (the singer of Wolof Ajami poetry, in the middle), and Fallou Ngom (the project leader, on the right).

  • Nataalu Mbayaan Jóop, boroom baat bu neex bi nekk ci tambale ak mujjàntéelu widewoo yi. || Image of Mbayane Diop, the beautiful voice at the start and end of the videos.

  • Kuréelu gëstukat yi ak jàngkati Wolofal yaa ngi waaj a añ ci këru Abdu Lahad Ture fa Tuubaa. || The team of researchers and singers of Wolof Ajami poetry are getting ready to have lunch at the home of Abdou Lahad Touré in Touba.

  • Ibraahima Ló, ab bindkat, a ngi wone ni muy def ba mbindam yi taaru. || Ibrahima Lo, a writer, is showing what he does to make his writings beautiful.

  • Lii mooy “satar,” li bindkat yi di teg ci suufu xëti kayit yi ngir seeni mbind jub. || This is what is called “satar”, which writers place under paper sheets to make their writings straight.

  • Ibraahima Ló, ab bindkat, a ngi wone melo yi muy jëfandikoo ci liggéeyam. Mu ngi toog ak kenn ci dongoom yi muy tàggat ci sotti mbindum Arab ak Wolofal. || Ibrahima Lo, a writer, is showing how he uses colors in his work. He is sitting with one of the students he is training in copying Arabic and Wolof Ajami texts.

  • Ab àlluwa bi ñu bind Saaru Faatiha te ñu ciy jàngal xale yi Alxuraan ak arafi abajada yi. || A wooden board with the Opening Chapter (of the Quran) used to teach children the Quran and Arabic letters.

Pedagogical Activities

Glossary
Notes
Exercises
Wolof Keyboard

Glossary

  1. Àgg: To arrive, reach, attain, finish
  2. Asamaan set, bët-set: Daybreak, early morning
  3. Barab, bërëb b-: Place, space, grave
  4. Bayit, bëyit b-: Verse of a poem
  5. Benn yoon: Once, one time
  6. Coobare g-: Will, intent, choice
  7. Daje: To meet, encounter, cross path
  8. Dégg: To hear, speak (a language), understand
  9. Déglu: To listen, pay attention
  10. Diggante b-: Between, within, in the meantime; relationship
  11. Diine: Religion, from Arabic dīn
  12. Enristre: To record with a tape recorder, from French enregistrer
  13. Fàttali: To remind
  14. Jaay: To sell
  15. Kóor g-: Fasting, month of Ramadan
  16. Loyalu b-, loyalu g-: Keyboard
  17. Miin: To be familiar with, be accustomed to, be used to
  18. Muslaay g-: Protective talisman or prayer
  19. Portale b-: Image, portrait, photo, from French portrait
  20. Raay b-: Railway, from French rail
  21. Saar w-: Quranic lesson, chapter
  22. Sabab: To motivate, cause, provoke
  23. Seex b-: Religious leader, from Arabic Shaykh
  24. Sët b-: Grandchild
  25. Soxal: To be interested, be concerned
  26. Tagg: To praise, celebrate, cheer
  27. Toppatoo: To look after, care for, take care of
  28. Wéttali: To keep company
  29. Yitté j-: Preoccupation, desire, purpose, concern

Notes

  1. Fuzti: An Arabic poem written by Shaykh Ahmadu Bamba (1853-1927) dedicated to the mother of Jesus Christ, Mary. In the poem, Bamba praises her divine gifts, virtues and exceptional human qualities.
  2. Mbër: The Wolof word for a traditional African wrestler. In Wolof Sufi discourse, the term is used as a metaphor for saints, the Prophet Muḥammad, and God. It is also used sometimes as a metaphor for Satan (Iblīs), the Greatest Champion of unrighteousness.
  3. Njaaréem: Also known as Jurbel and spelled as Diourbel in the nonstandard French-based spelling, is the name of a city and a region located in central Senegal where Shaykh Ahmadu Bamba was kept under house arrest from 1912 to his death in 1927.
  4. Seex Muhammadu Mustafaa or Shaykh Moustapha Mbacké (1888-1945): Also known as Móodu Mustafaa, he was the eldest son of Shaykh Ahmadu Bamba and the first Caliph of the Muridiyya (1927-1945). He was the one who began the construction of the mosque of Touba in 1930.
  5. Sëriñ Abdu Lahad Mbàkke, Serigne Abdou Lahad Mbacké, or Baay Lahad (1914-1989): A son of Shaykh Ahmadu Bamba and the third Caliph of the Muridiyya (1968-1989). He is also known as The Builder in Murid communities due to the modern infrastructures he built in Touba.
  6. Sëriñ Abdu Xaadir Mbàkke or Serigne Abdou Khadre Mbacké (1914-1989): A son of Shaykh Amadu Bamba and the fourth Caliph of the Muridiyya (1988-1989). He served as the lead imam of the mosque of Touba during his life. According to Murid hagiographers, he never left Touba after the death of his brother, Muhammadu Mustafaa Mbàkke, who served as the first caliph of the Muridiyya.
  7. Sëriñ Mbay Jaxate or Serigne Mbaye Diakhaté (ca. 1876-1951): A disciple of Shaykh Ahmadu Bamba and one of  the most famous Wolof Ajami poets. He was the son of the renowned judge Xaali Majaxate Kala or Qādi Majaxate Kala (1835-1902). Mbay Jaxate began his poetic career during Bamba’s exile in Mauritania (1902-1907). His work focused on social criticism, satire, and the code of ethics of Murid discipleship.
  8. Sëriñ Suhaybu Mbàkke or Serigne Souhaibou Mbacké (1918-1991): A son of Ahmadu Bamba who is remembered in Murid communities as a great scholar and Quranic teacher who educated many children.

Exercises:

Comprehension || Writing || Listening / Speaking and Conversation || Cultural Competence

Comprehension: Video

Comprehension: Image

Writing

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For exercises 1-6 below, open the Wolof Ajami keyboard, type text, and copy-paste it into the box.
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Listening / Speaking and Conversation

  • Ay Laaj yu Gàtt: Bindal ay laaj yu gàtt ci li widewoo bi ëmb. Soo noppee, indi leen ci daara ji ngir laajante ci ak say naatango.

Cultural Competence

  • Jëlal ci widewoo bi ay fànn te nga bind leen. Boo noppee, na nga leen méngale ak fànn ya ñu nirool ca fa nga dëkk. Woneel li ñu bokk ak li leen wuutale.