The Gamou of Tivaouane is the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's birth, the Mawlid (Maouloud in Senegal), by Senegal's Tijaniyya brotherhood. Every year, huge crowds converge on Tivaouane, the holy city of the Tijanis, for a night of prayers and songs around the Great Mosque. In 2026, the Gamou in Tivaouane was celebrated on Tuesday, August 25. In 2027, it should fall around August 14, give or take a day.
Origins and meaning of the Gamou in Tivaouane
The Mawlid is celebrated throughout the Muslim world on the 12th of the month of Rabi al-Awwal. In Senegal, it is called Gamou. Several of the country's religious towns have their own, and the one in Tivaouane gathers the Tijanis.
It is linked to Seydi El Hadji Malick Sy, called Maodo by his followers. This Sufi guide settled in Tivaouane at the start of the 20th century and made it a center of Islamic teaching. In 1902, he organized the first pilgrimage of his brotherhood's members to Tivaouane to celebrate the Prophet's birth. Under his leadership, the festival also became a time of teaching, centered on the Quran and the Sunna.
Today the Gamou is presided over by the general caliph of the Tijanis, Serigne Babacar Sy Mansour. His speech mixes religion and current affairs: in 2025, he spoke in particular about the war in Gaza.
It is a great pleasure to come and celebrate the Prophet's birth in Tivaouane.
What you see during the Gamou
The festival begins well before the great night. During the first ten nights of the month of Rabi al-Awwal, people recite the Burda, a famous poem in praise of the Prophet. In 2026, these sessions began on Friday, August 14, in Tivaouane and across the country, according to Le Soleil.
Pilgrims then arrive by the thousands, some of them around ten days ahead. The high point is a night of prayers and religious songs. Worshippers pray on the esplanade of the Great Mosque, while songs ring out in houses and mosques all over town, according to the report published by AllAfrica.
During the day, you can attend Quran recitations, invocations and xassaïdes, songs in honor of the great figures of the Tijaniyya. Pilgrims also make the ziarra, the visit to the mausoleums of Malick Sy's family, including the white and gold mausoleum built in his honor.
Each edition has a theme. In 2026, it was “Together, thinking and acting through the word of Oneness (Tawhid).”
Our advice
If you come as an observer, the daytime and early evening are easier to experience than the heart of the night, when the crowd around the mosque is at its densest.
Gamou dates
The Gamou follows the Muslim lunar calendar, which moves back about eleven days each year. The official date is announced by Senegal's national lunar crescent commission (Conacoc).
| Year | Gamou date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, August 25 | official (Conacoc) |
| 2027 | around August 14 | estimate, may vary by a day |
Attending
Entry requirements. Depending on your nationality, you may or may not need a visa: check your case on our Senegal entry requirements page. French passport holders do not need one for a stay of less than three months in Senegal.
Getting there. Tivaouane is in the Thiès region. During the Gamou, private cars, coaches, convoys of worshippers and the train all converge on the town. The roads are very busy: leave early and avoid driving at night between towns, advice from France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice) that applies all year round.
Accommodation. Host families and dahiras, associations of worshippers, step up to welcome pilgrims. For a visitor, the simplest option is to stay outside town and come with a member of the brotherhood.
Dress and respect. The Gamou is a religious festival. Wear loose clothing that covers you, women should bring a headscarf, and take off your shoes to enter places of prayer. Always ask before taking photos.
Watch out
The crowd is enormous on the night of the Gamou. Keep your children close, agree on a meeting point and watch out for pickpockets. Late August is the rainy season: storms can flood the roads.
Also check your own government's travel advice. For the rest of your trip, see our Senegal guide and the other festivals in Senegal, including the Grand Magal of Touba.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Gamou and the Mawlid the same thing?
Yes. Gamou is the Senegalese name for the Mawlid, the festival of the Prophet's birth. The Gamou of Tivaouane is that of the Tijaniyya brotherhood.
Is the Gamou date the same everywhere in Senegal?
The national date is announced by the Conacoc. Some communities may celebrate a day apart, based on their own sighting of the moon.
How many pilgrims come to Tivaouane?
About five million pilgrims were announced in 2025. It is an estimate, but the crowd is huge in any case.
