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In a three-storey residence located in a tranquil neighborhood of Gran Canaria, around an hour’s drive from the airport, a group of more than a dozen young Senegalese boys dressed in vibrant, flowing robes gathers in a circle to chant prayers. Nearby, girls clad in headscarves are immersed in their own prayers, while on the rooftop terrace, a delicious meal of rice, meat, and vegetables is being prepared.
On a sunny Sunday in February, these young individuals, primarily asylum seekers from Senegal, seek solace in this community. They often find refuge in detention facilities noted for their harsh conditions, as reported by human rights groups in Spain.
Last year, a significant number of those arriving in the Canary Islands came from Senegal, contributing to a record total of nearly 47,000 individuals who made the perilous Atlantic crossing in search of a better life.
Many teenagers turn to the dahira to cultivate a sense of belonging and alleviate their anxieties. Increasingly, the youth from Senegal are leaving their homeland, driven by a lack of employment opportunities. Although many aspire to secure better economic prospects in Europe, they confront an overwhelmed asylum system, particularly in the Canary Islands.
Within the walls of this house, the teenagers identify as talibés, or students of the Mouride brotherhood, a prominent Sufi community rooted in Senegalese culture. “Coming here makes us feel like we are at home again,” shares 18-year-old Mame Diarra, who arrived on the island a year prior and currently resides in a facility designated for women.
Comprising about 40% of Senegal’s Muslim population, the Mourides represent the second-largest Sufi order, originating in the 17th century in response to the French colonial presence.
The Gran Canaria dahira houses a mosque adorned with a photograph of Amadou Bamba, the revered founder of the Mouride brotherhood. Bamba advocated for peaceful resistance against colonial oppression and was exiled multiple times, first to Gabon and later to Mauritania. Each year, millions commemorate his exile during the Grand Magal, a pilgrimage to the Mouride’s spiritual center in Touba, Senegal.
These Mouride circles, or dahiras, function as both educational institutions and social networks, fostering bonds among members and establishing a sense of family within the community. The brotherhood’s influence extends politically, as it counts among its members several former presidents.
Bamba is venerated in such a way that migration is deemed sacred within the community, as noted by Cheikh Babou, a history scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. For many Senegalese, particularly among the Mourides, migration carries a profound spiritual significance, coupled with a reassurance that they will find support wherever they go.
Global dahiras from cities like Paris to New York boast thousands of followers who contribute substantial funds to maintain the Grand Mosque in Touba, one of the largest mosques in Africa. This financial strength has enabled Mouride communities to cultivate influence, a prospect that raises concerns among Touba’s sheikhs, who fear losing their authority. Notably, one dahira in Italy has launched a three-day marathon of prayers, which has gained popularity even within Senegal, while another in mainland Spain has facilitated the construction of a significant hospital in Touba to serve its community.
Central to these connections are the marabouts, religious educators who travel overseas to offer counsel and gather donations. In Gran Canaria, Abdou Fall fulfills this role as a leader, taking pride in his heritage as a descendant of Ibra Fall, a cherished disciple of Bamba.
In another room, Papa Gueye, the Mouride president of Gran Canaria, enjoys a cup of coffee while discussing how the community’s contributions help sustain the dahira and support its work. “Even the young asylum seekers contribute whatever little they can from their meager allowances,” he shares.
The resources collected are used to provide essential food and temporary shelter for those in need, while a significant portion is sent back to Touba. Last year, this community sent €25,000 (£21,000) from Spain, part of a total of €150,000 contributed to support their home community.
Gueye, a former teacher in Senegal who now works as a taxi driver, emphasizes the growing necessity of community support in the Canary Islands, especially as countless Senegalese migrants seek legal residency or employment after enduring treacherous journeys to reach Europe.
The situation is complicated by the issues facing overcrowded asylum centers, with many young migrants facing apprehension about the day they turn 18, at which point they risk losing their government support. Gueye aims to provide them with reassurance during these uncertain times.
“We talk about their worries and encourage them to be patient regarding their residency status,” he states. “We regard ourselves as their support system.”
A short distance from the dahira, three young talibés sit on a park bench, preoccupied with their phones. All are asylum seekers on the verge of adulthood.
“This gives me peace, and for a moment, I forget my problems,” one of the boys, who arrived by boat a year ago and has recently turned 18, says about their weekly gatherings. “With no residency papers, finding work is a huge concern for me.”
Lawyer Loueila Sid Ahmed Ndiaye, who specializes in migration issues, is critical of the current asylum process in Spain. Under-18 migrants are entitled to various forms of support, but these rights vanish once they reach adulthood, leaving them vulnerable and in need.
“As soon as they turn 18, the authorities no longer see the need for guardianship, treating them as capable adults, but they are abandoned by the system and left to their own devices,” Ndiaye explains.
The Spanish government has been reached for commentary on these pressing issues.
Despite the efforts of humanitarian organizations on the island to support young adults, available housing in reception centers is limited, according to Ndiaye.
As the evening approaches, the heartfelt recitations within the dahira continue, instilling a sense of peace among its attendees. Though the young people will soon depart for their detention facilities, Gueye assures that the doors of the dahira remain open for the next gathering in a week’s time.
“I encourage them to remain resilient,” Gueye advises. “Here, they find comfort and support.”
Source
www.theguardian.com