The Senegalese capital celebrated on Friday the 60th anniversary of the construction of the Great Mosque of Dakar, an emblematic monument inaugurated on March 27, 1964 by King Hassan II of Morocco and Léopold Sédar Senghor, the first President of Senegal.
Before welcoming hundreds of worshippers for the weekly prayer, the Great Mosque of Dakar looked back on its past. The 60th anniversary of its construction was celebrated in a solemn and spiritual moment in the presence of several Senegalese and Moroccan authorities, including Hassan Naciri, Ambassador of the King of Morocco to Senegal.
The ceremony was marked by speeches highlighting the central role of the religious building in strengthening the ancestral ties between the two countries.
With its 67-metre minaret and rich Arab-Berber decoration, the Grand Mosque of Dakar is much more than a religious building. It is a living reminder of the spiritual and architectural cooperation between the two nations, and also houses an Islamic institute under the auspices of the Senegalese Ministry of Education.
Religious personality Abdoulaye Makhtar Diop, recalled the essential role played by his ancestors from the Lebou community in the construction of this place of worship. This monument is a living reminder of relations between Morocco and Senegal and a testimony to our moderate and tolerant Islam,” said the traditional authority, paying tribute to historical icons such as the late Hassan II, whom he described as “one of the greatest builders of the 20th century”.
Mr Diop was also keen to point out that this mosque was designed to reflect the richness of Moroccan culture and Senegalese spiritual identity.
The Imam of the Great Mosque, Alioune Moussa Samb, speaking on behalf of Professor Basse, thanked the Moroccan authorities for their historical and contemporary contributions. He particularly praised the Kingdom of Cherif for having trained many young Senegalese, thereby strengthening educational and cultural ties.
For his part, Sidi Mouhamed Rifki, Secretary General of the Mohamed VI Foundation of African Ulemas, stressed the importance of this spiritual cooperation. Senegal and Morocco share a common history and destiny,” he said, adding that the Foundation, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, works to promote tolerance, peace and the fight against extremism in Africa.
The representative of the Senegalese Minister of the Interior, Abdourahmane Ndiaye, in charge of religious affairs, stressed that the Grand Mosque was a living symbol of cooperation between the two countries and called for a “new breath” in bilateral relations. He also recalled that this project was first initiated by the Lebou community before being completed thanks to the support of the late King Hassan II.
The celebrations continued in the evening with a religious vigil before the symposium on Saturday, which bought together religious figures and intellectuals to discuss the current challenges facing the Islamic faith and Senegalese-Moroccan relations.
The Friday afternoon ceremony was concluded with prayers for the repose of the mosque’s illustrious builders and an appeal to preserve the values of peace and solidarity between African peoples.
ODL/sf/ac/lb/gik/APA