Darou Hidjiratou (also spelled Darou Hijratou or Darou Idjiratou) is a village and zone in

Bonconto Commune Bonconto Commune is a rural community of Bonconto Arrondissement in the Vélingara Department, Kolda Region, Senegal. It is also spelled Bonkonto. The commune is known as a major center of Shia Islam in Senegal and is home to the Al Hassanayni G ...

Bonconto Arrondissement Bonconto Arrondissement is an arrondissement of the Vélingara Department in the Kolda Region of Senegal. It is also spelled Bonkonto. Subdivisions The arrondissement is divided administratively into rural communities and in turn into villages. ...

Vélingara Department Vélingara Department is one of the 46 departments of Senegal, one of the three making up the Kolda Region in the Upper Casamance. Administration The department has three communes: Vélingara (the capital town), Kounkané and Diaobé-Kabendo ...

Kolda Region Kolda is a region of Senegal (regional capitals have the same name as their respective regions). The region is also referred to historically and popularly as Haute Casamance. It's one of the 14 regions of the country and is located in the South ...

in south

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

. As a major center of

Shia Islam in Senegal Shia Islam in Senegal is practiced small number of Senegalese people, as well as by the Lebanese community in Senegal. Background According to historian Alioune Badiane, Shia Islam has been present in Senegal for many centuries, and can be traced ...

, it is home to the Al Hassanayni Grand Mosque of Darou Hidjiratou, the largest mosque in

. Darou Hijiratou Zone is made up of 8 villages: Darou Hijiratou (Darou Idjiratou), Amanatoulaye, Fass, Afia, Pakinia Sinthiang, Pakinia Paoundé, Hamdalaye Kouta, Moundou Sankoulé. Darou Hijiratou village has approximately 1,580 persons (year 2010).

Notable people

The village is locally well known as the birthplace of a prominent Shi'i Muslim family in

, including

leader Cherif Habib Aidara and his brother

Cherif Mohamed Aly Aidara Cherif Mohamed Aly Aidara is a Senegalese-Mauritanian Shia religious leader who is known for his work on international development in West Africa. He is one of the primary Shia religious figures in Senegal and West Africa. Early life and family ...

, founder of the international NGO

Mozdahir Mozdahir (also known as the ''Mozdahir International Institute''; French name: Institut Mozdahir International or IMI) is an international non-governmental organization based in Dakar, Senegal. Overview It has branches in different African countr ...

. The village was named Darou Hidjiratou (Dar El Hijra, 'the house of immigration') by

Cherif Al-Hassane Aidara Cherif Al-Hassane Aidara (born 1917 in Timbédra, Mauritania; died December 2011 in Darou Hidjiratou, Senegal) was a Mauritanian-Senegalese Sufi religious leader belonging to the Tijaniya tariqa. Biography Cherif Al-Hassane Aidara emigrated from ...

, the father of

. As a pilgrimage site, it is also where Cherif Al-Hassane Aidara is buried.

Pilgrimage site

, the founder of the village, is buried in Darou Hidjiratou. Every year, thousands of people visit his tomb for prayers.

References

{{coord, 13, 02, N, 13, 52, W, display=title, region:SN_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki Populated places in Kolda Region

Notable people

Pilgrimage site

See also

References