Authorities in Senegal’s Mbour department are taking unprecedented measures to ensure the authenticity and safety of the annual Mandingo September festival, a cultural event that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
On July 28, the prefect of Mbour, Amadou Diop, chaired a Departmental Development Committee (CDD) to coordinate preparations for this year’s celebrations.
The meeting included representatives from the Mandingo Collectivity, Djoudjou Cissé Counda, and the municipalities of Somone and Malicounda.
Prefect Diop emphasized that all activities—especially the construction of initiation huts and the ceremonial exit of Kankourang—must be validated by an official commission, underlining the close supervision of the prefectural authorities.
Kankourang, a sacred ritual integral to the Mandingo initiation cycle, is a living repository of ancestral values.
It accompanies the rite of passage for young boys and serves as a symbol of identity and continuity within the community.
Every September, the ritual punctuates life in Mbour, where its cultural significance is deeply respected.
To safeguard the authenticity of the festival, the Mandingo Collectivity has established a Grand Council of Alpha Kafo, a body of patriarchs tasked with overseeing the rites.
Arfang Ibrahima Touré has been reappointed as coordinator for Mandingo September 2025, reflecting continuity in leadership and custodianship.
A 2022 study by the Mandingo Collectivity and Iba Der Thiam University of Thiès estimated that 329,000 visitors flock to Mbour each weekend during the festival, creating significant economic benefits for trade, crafts, transport, accommodation, and catering in a department with a population of 937,000.
Despite these measures, traditional leaders have voiced concern over a recent prefectural decree allowing non-initiates to organize Kankourang events. They argue that the practice, classified as intangible heritage by UNESCO, should remain the preserve of initiates.
Patriarchs warn that the proliferation of ceremonies conducted by unqualified individuals threatens the ritual’s sacredness and long-term survival.
Mandingo leaders stress their responsibility to preserve the integrity of the Kankourang for future generations, calling for strict adherence to traditional rules and reaffirming the festival’s cultural and spiritual significance in Mbour.
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