The 85th edition of the Daaka de Médina Gounass officially opened on Saturday, April 18, 2026, with Governor Moustapha Ndiaye presiding over the ceremony at the spiritual retreat site ten kilometers from Médina Gounass.
The event, which began at dawn with thousands of pilgrims gathering at the grand mosque for Fajr prayer, marks the start of a ten-day annual spiritual retreat rooted in the Tidiane Sufi tradition. Pilgrims performed ablutions, offered voluntary prayers, and gathered at the mausoleum of Thierno Mouhamadou Saïdou Ba, who founded the Daaka in 1942, before proceeding to the retreat site.
Governor Ndiaye, leading a delegation of administrative, security, and technical officials, conveyed state greetings to Khalife General Thierno Amadou Tidiane Ba and the organizing committee. He praised the organizers’ commitment and the exceptional mobilization of faithful from Senegal and across the sub-region, underscoring the Daaka’s significance in the national and regional religious landscape.
In his address, the governor called for prayers for Senegal’s stability and the success of government programs aimed at improving living conditions — an appeal met with fervent response from participants. He later conducted a field visit to assess logistical preparations, expressing satisfaction with the implementation of national directives on security, water supply, health, and sanitation.
These measures, designed to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the retreat, were affirmed by both the governor and Interior Minister Mouhamadou Bamba Cissé, who chaired a national preparatory meeting in Dakar ahead of the event. The minister commended the state’s execution of commitments made during the preparatory committee.
The Daaka, which will run until April 27, continues to draw thousands of devotees annually for intense devotion, Quranic recitation, and prayer. Held in the Vélingara department of Kolda region, Médina Gounass lies approximately 160 kilometers from Kolda and 80 kilometers from Tambacounda.
What time did the Daaka 2026 officially begin?
The official launch ceremony took place on Saturday afternoon, April 18, 2026, following morning prayers at the grand mosque and the pilgrims’ procession to the retreat site ten kilometers from Médina Gounass.
Who founded the Daaka de Médina Gounass and when?
The Daaka was instituted in 1942 by Thierno Mouhamadou Saïdou Ba, whose mausoleum remains a focal point for pilgrim invocations and zikr sessions during the retreat.
What logistical preparations were highlighted by authorities for the 2026 Daaka?
Authorities emphasized security, water supply, health, and sanitation measures, with the governor confirming their effective implementation based on national directives from the preparatory committee.
