This Sunday, September 14, 2025, in Tivaouane, a tribute worthy of his rank will be paid to him by the faithful. A man of God of exceptional stature, Sheikhal Seydi Haj Abdoul Aziz Sy "Dabakh", 4th General Caliph of the Tidianes, devoted his entire life to the exclusive service of Allah and his Prophet Seyidina Mouhamed (Psl).

 

Several thousand faithful from all over the country and even beyond, for the needs of Mawlid Al Naby, gather every day at the mausoleum of the Holy man who acceded to the title of Caliph of the Tidjaniya on May 13, 1957.

 

We recall that upon the death of this apostle of peace, the Moroccan Cherifian family had requested that his remains be placed next to those of Cheikhna Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Cherif (RTA), because Mame Abdou "is an example to leave to posterity and an inexhaustible and inexhaustible heritage to safeguard."

 

History teaches us that in four days, on March 25 and 29, 1957, Tivaouane lost Seydi Aboubacar SY, the first caliph of Seydi El Hadji Malick Sy who had succeeded his father in 1922, as well as his younger brother El Hadji Mansour SY, then aged 57.

 

Some believed then that the Tarikha Tidjane would experience a long period of lethargy. But the Creator, in his infinite greatness, blessed the "Khadara" (Community of Tidjanes) with a Sufi imbued with peace, social, discreet, courteous and endowed with an encyclopedic culture to bring to a successful conclusion the Tarikha of Sheikh Ahmed Tidiane and propagate the Sunna (tradition) of the Prophet Mohamed (PSL). By his reassuring presence and his attachment to the letter and the spirit of the Quran and the Sunnah, El Hadji Abdoul Aziz Sy knew how to live up to the many hopes placed in him when he acceded to the Khalifat.

 

Son of the pioneer of Tidjanism in Senegal, El Hadj Maodo Malick Sy and Sokhna Safiétou Niang, Mame Abdou Aziz Sy "Dabakh" (the generous in Wolof), the Unforgettable born in Tivaouane in 1904, the year of the inauguration of the Great Mosque of Tivaouane (premonitory sign or happy coincidence of the calendar, and snatched from the affection of the whole world on September 14, 1997, third general caliph of the Tidianes (1957-1997), undoubtedly the best known of his lineage, owes his reputation to his generosity and his mission to contribute to unity between brotherhoods and to Islamic-Christian dialogue.

 

Undeniably in all hearts, the particularity of the Holy man is that in addition to having had the chance to be educated by his father, his older brothers, to study humanities with Moukhadams and companions of his father of the caliber of Serigne Mouhamadoul Haddy Touré of Fass, had to, later, as a good "Doomu-Sokhna" (son of a maraboutic family), travel to the centers of excellence of the country to perfect his culture, notably the University of Tivaouane and the Daara of Mbacoumé, in the heart of Cayor.

 

At the age of 26, armed with a solid education, he left for Saint-Louis, formerly a high place of knowledge and a must-see for fans of "Risâla" and "Bayân" where he had Serigne Birahim DIOP as his tutor, with whom he remained for seven years.

 

Self-effacing and discreet until his last breath, proof if any were needed of unparalleled modesty and a step back from earthly things, Serigne Abdou always considered himself a simple disciple among those of his venerated father and guide. Great among the greats of the Umma and the Tarikha Tidiane, worthy successor of the work of Aboul Abass Ahmad Tidiane and his "spiritual sons" Cheikh Mouhamadoul Khaly, Cheikh Oumar Foutiyou, Alpha Mayoro Wélé and El Hadji Hadji Malick Sy, Moulaye DABAKH had throughout his life a single concern: to instill in believers respect for the inalienable dogmas of the teaching of the Prophet Mohamed (PSL).

 

This is how he invested all his strength, despite the weight of age and fragile health, in the construction of the great mosque of Tivaouane which was the major work of his caliphate. Humility, is it not the strong point of great men? Serigne Abdou knew how to establish a relational network whose density only served to mark the path in order to achieve the only objective that found favor in his eyes: to cement the Islamic Ummah to make it less vulnerable and to contribute to mutual respect between brotherhoods.

 

"Dabakh Malick" also owned several agricultural concessions, particularly in the Saint-Louis region, which were farmed by his talibés. He distinguished himself not only by his erudition but also by his preaching, his commitment to the Islamic cause, his numerous writings in Arabic and an important biography of his father, El Hadj Malick Sy. By directing his father's Talibé Choirs, he earned unfailing popularity. Thus, "Moulaye Dabakh," as his disciples affectionately called him, was an authority through his wisdom and culture.

 

A Republican to his fingertips, the man of God refused to remain silent when his society was in danger. Always asking religious leaders to speak truthfully to their followers. To those in power, he always reminded those in power that nothing was going right in this country because of false, corrupt, and dishonest men shamefully exploiting the population. Peaceful at heart, the patriarch of Tivaouane-la-pieuse was a true social regulator who, throughout his caliphate, knew how to get involved to prevent Senegal from falling into chaos.