The second African conference on the Tijaniyya Path wrapped up at Amar Thaliji University in Laghouat, Algeria, with a series of recommendations. These included promoting academic collaboration between Algerian and African universities, supporting peace and stability efforts, and resolving conflicts in Africa. The conference, attended by researchers, academics, and sheikhs from over 20 countries, was held to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the start of the Algerian Revolution in 1954.
The conference, titled "The Algerian Revolution (1954-1962) and African Memory: The Figure of Sheikh Sidi Haj ben Omar Tijanani," was opened by Laghouat Governor Mohamed Ben Malik and General Khalifa of the Tijaniyya Path, Sheikh Ali Belarabi Tijanani. The event provided a platform to explore the shared African heritage and highlight the historical and cultural ties between Algeria and other African countries.
The conference featured scientific sessions with presentations by various researchers. These covered historical, spiritual, and cultural aspects of the Tijaniyya Path's African expansion. A professor from the University of Nouadhibou in Mauritania discussed the role of Ain Madi and Tijaniyya in West Africa in transferring spiritual knowledge and promoting solidarity among scholars.
Researchers from Mauritania also examined the Tijaniyya Hamawiya's role in resisting French colonialism and peaceful resistance in Mauritania between 1902 and 1943. Other presentations focused on the life of Imam Al-Hajj Umar Tall and his efforts to spread the Tijaniyya Path in West Africa. A Nigerian researcher explored the cultural exchange between Algeria and West Africa through the Tijaniyya Path.
Recommendations from the conference included publishing the proceedings in a collective scientific book, establishing the event as an annual international conference, and producing a documentary film about the life of Sheikh Sidi Haj ben Omar Tijanani. A new international prize for cultural communication between Algeria and Africa was also proposed.
The conference aimed to revive the shared African memory and emphasize the depth of historical and cultural links between Algeria and other African nations. It highlighted the contributions of the Tijaniyya Path and its leaders in resisting French colonialism and supporting the Algerian liberation struggle.
Key points from the conference include the need for enhanced academic cooperation between Algerian and African universities, promoting peace and stability in Africa, and preserving the cultural heritage of the Tijaniyya Path.
Key points
- The conference recommended establishing a digital platform to preserve manuscripts and historical documents related to the Tijaniyya Path.
- Researchers called for a comprehensive scientific encyclopedia about the leaders of the Tijaniyya Path in Algeria and Africa.
- The event proposed creating an international prize to promote cultural communication between Algeria and Africa.
