Serigne Mouhamadou Lamine Bara Mbacké Falilou: The First Grandson Khalife of Serigne Touba (2007–2010)

A new era for the Mouride path

Serigne Mouhamadou Lamine Bara Mbacké, affectionately known as Serigne Bara Falilou, holds a special place in Mouride history. On December 28, 2007, he became the sixth Khalife général of the Mourides and the first grandson of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba to lead the community.

His accession marked the passage from the era of the founder’s sons to the era of his grandsons.

Birth: a child named after his uncle

Serigne Bara was the son of Serigne Fallou Mbacké, the second Khalife. He was born around 1924 or 1925, at a special moment: his uncle, Serigne Mouhamadou Lamine Bara Mbacké, son of Serigne Touba, was then visiting Serigne Fallou.

In honor of that visit, the newborn received his uncle’s name. Serigne Fallou then entrusted the child to his namesake, who took charge of his education.

A solid education

Under the guidance of his namesake, Serigne Bara memorized the Holy Quran and learned the art of calligraphy. He also received a complete education in the religious sciences.

He later completed his training with his father, Serigne Fallou, and with his uncle, Serigne Saliou Mbacké, who became his spiritual master. He spoke both Arabic and French fluently.

A life of service and work

Long before becoming Khalife, Serigne Bara lived a life of service to his family and to the community:

• At the service of Serigne Saliou: for seven years, he was the personal driver of his uncle, Serigne Saliou Mbacké, a mark of humility and devotion.
• A man of the land: he took part in the farming work at the great fields of Khelcom.
• Faithful to prayer: from the inauguration of the Great Mosque of Touba on June 7, 1963, he was known for never missing the Friday prayer.
• A pilgrim: he made the lesser pilgrimage (Umrah) to Mecca several times.

Those who knew him described a man of clear judgment and open mind, with a remarkable sense of organization and a spirit of enterprise. They also spoke of his kindness, generosity and honesty.

Khalife of the Mourides (2007–2010)

When Serigne Saliou Mbacké returned to God on December 28, 2007, Serigne Bara, then 82 years old, became the sixth Khalife général. He led the community for about two and a half years, a short time in which he left a lasting mark.

A Khalife who united and listened

Serigne Bara introduced a collegial way of managing the affairs of the community. He listened, brought people together, and involved the different branches of the Mouride family in decision-making.

He also worked to protect the spiritual character of Touba, limiting political and folkloric events in the holy city.

The modernizer of Touba

During his khalifate, he launched and strengthened major projects to modernize the holy city:

• the Great Mosque: a historic rehabilitation and enlargement of the Great Mosque of Touba;
• ring roads: major roads around the Great Mosque to ease traffic during the Magal and other gatherings;
• new roads: paved routes linking Touba to Gouye Mbind, Darou Khoudoss and Darou Minam.

Return to God and legacy

Serigne Mouhamadou Lamine Bara Mbacké Falilou returned to God on June 30, 2010, in Touba. He was buried the next day in the Great Mosque of Touba, alongside the other guides of the community. Senegal declared eight days of national mourning, and hundreds of thousands of people came to pay their respects.

His cousin, Serigne Sidy Moukhtar Mbacké, son of Serigne Mouhamadou Lamine Bara Mbacké (the son of Serigne Touba who had raised him), succeeded him as the seventh Khalife.

Every year, the Mouride community celebrates his memory in Touba, honoring a guide who united the family, served with humility, and opened the era of the grandsons of Serigne Touba.