The tomb of Jihadist Imam Sait Matty Bah, which is positioned in Bakau is likely one of the most visited Senegambian tombs.
It’s constructed on the former Sunswing Lodge now Solar Seashore Lodge in Cape Level, Bakau.
The tomb, constructed over century in the past is about six meters stroll from the gate of the lodge. From the gate you’ll straight see the tomb painted in white color with a light-weight brown strap on the high and backside with a strolling lane to the one carved picket door painted black. The door is at all times closed not locked however open for any customer to enter.
Contained in the tomb is a bumpy sand of lower than two meters size indicating the purpose the place the physique is laid, there’s praying mat and Al Qur’an, a bunch of brief broom and a pot to burn incense whereas inside, too, all painted white.
In the meantime, within the entrance view of the tomb, a plaque and bushes there got in honour of Imam Sait Matty Bah by Mustafa Bittaye, the overall contractor for the then Sunswing Lodge.
Sait Matty Bah’s tomb receives extra guests than every other jihadist tombs in The Gambia. A lot of the vacationers or guests that test into the lodge do discover time to have a look whereas some take footage of this lovely and effectively stored tomb.
The tomb isn’t just for go to or images alone however some folks come round or go to there to make some supplications as a result of Sait Matty isn’t just solely an Imam, Jihadist of his time but in addition a marabou.
Imam Sait Matty Bah was son of Almami Maba Jahu Bah who was one of many nice Jihadists, a King and Imam in Sine Saloum.
Historians recorded that he got here to settle in The Gambia across the starting of twentieth century and was a religious and staunch follower of Islam with a number of followers, primarily Wollofs, majority of them migrated with him to The Gambia. He was the daddy of former Imam Alhaji Waka Bah, the daddy of one of many former Imams of Bathurst – Alhaji Ahmad Lamin Bah.
In line with Hassoum Ceesay, historian and director common of Nationwide Centre for Arts and Tradition (NCAC), Imam Sait Matty, the son of Almami Maba, who was one of many Muslim nice jihadists and reformers of the Senegambia area was credited for spreading Islam largely of Senegambia. This included the area at this time known as Sine, Saloum and Badibou. “He did this till the French knew in the event that they actually needed to finish their colonial designed undertaking of colonizing, they needed to take care of him in a technique or one other,” he said.
In 1867, persevering with his narration, the French attacked Maba Jahu Bah and he misplaced his life within the Battle of Somb, now in current day Republic of Senegal and earlier than his loss of life; he had already planted the seed of Islam in giant components of Senegal and The Gambia.
Extra importantly, Maba Jahu Bah had a son who was additionally a warrior. “When Maba Jahu was killed, the son, Mamoud Nderry Bah took up the mantle to proceed from the place the daddy had stopped. And he did this for over 20 years however one other son of Maba Jahu, Sait Matty born in 1855 was eager about reforming and changing some folks notably within the Badibou. Saity Matty’s curiosity gave solution to confrontation together with his brother, Mamoud Nderry.”
Historical past knowledgeable that Mamoud Nderry and Sait Matty had been brothers with rivalry between them and the British additionally performed necessary half in dividing them. They had been giving Sait Matty arms and gun powder to make use of in opposition to his brother “therefore they didn’t need unity amongst them. The worry of the British was that if the 2 had been united they might conquer Bathurst, a British colony.”
The British plan labored, Sait Matty grew to become a really robust opponent of Mamoud Nderry and fought severally in current Badibou and a number of the Sait Matty’s warriors had been compelled to flee throughout the river on the South Financial institution of the River Gambia.
“Lastly, in 1893 he misplaced a battle and fled together with his ‘talibe’ (disciples), a few of his warriors had been disarmed by the British and allowed to settle in Bathurst. As a result of Bathurst was too tight for him and his entourage however was taken care of by the alkalo of Bakau the place he had home and residential to cool down in Bakau Kunku the place he lived till his time in 1897 and was buried in Bakau,” he defined.
Thus, a avenue was named after Sait Matty in Bakau and his descendants may be present in Senegal and The Gambia pleased with his legacy as Islamist, reformer and a diplomat who was capable of stability his self-interest to get arms and weapons from the British and to battle his wars and in addition maintained a great relationship with the British to stay an impartial life.
Until at this time, all his descendants have their annual Gamo, household reunion each in The Gambia and Senegal and work collectively translating the household reunion to one thing stronger.