“A Saint in the city: Sufi arts of urban Senegal”
We are big, big fans of the Fowler Museum of Cultural History at the University of California at Los Angeles, the famed UCLA. The Fowler has terrific exhibitions of African art. Its web site is currently presenting a fabulous exhibition of the Sufi art of Senegal. It was at one time called “Passport to Paradise,” but has since been renamed to “A Saint in the city: Sufi arts of urban Senegal.” We urge you to visit Fowler’s on-line presentation. It is filled with wonderful art and informative text. Here is one example of the text, to help explain the pieces of wall art shown here:
“The crowded streets of Senegal’s capital, Dakar, are a study in urban commotion. Amid this bounty of visual stimulation, the image of one man emerges from nearly everywhere. He is saint, poet, and mystic Sheikh Amadou Bamba (1853-1927). Cloaked in white, face hidden in shadow, the image of Sheikh Bamba gives strength to his followers, and his teachings transport the faithful to paradise. An influential Senegalese Sufi (Islamic) movement called the Mouride Way is grounded in Bamba’s lessons about the dignity and sanctity of work. This dynamic exhibition explores his life and teachings as depicted in a striking range of Mouride arts.”
As Americans we are preparing for war against Iraq, a largely Islamic country, and we are already fighting against international terrorism, sometimes is perceived as a war against Islam. Our wars against terrorism and Iraq are not against Islam. That said, it is our duty to better understand Islam. This is a nice way to do some of that.