AdvenTour! Its fame is undoubtedly founded on its history and the identity of the mythical figures that it saw born, like Léopold Sédar Senghor (prestigious poet and first president of Senegal), or Yakhya Diop known as Yékini, undoubtedly the most big name in Senegalese wrestling (a sport which could, in certain circumstances, steal the limelight in football in the hearts of Senegalese).
Alongside these human symbols is the mixed cemetery of Joal Fadiouth, one of the few in the world, where the souls of the missing Christians and Muslims rest. This space reserved for those who came before us is a source of pride for the inhabitants of the small town of Joal-Fadiouth. Mostly Catholic, in a country where nearly 95% of the population is Muslim, the inhabitants share a peaceful daily life. Proof of this tolerance, where religion has a place only in “hearts”, the cemetery of which it was once only two small villages (Joal and Fadiouth), has the particularity of being a symbol of tolerance. religious in Senegal, open to all. It is therefore not unusual to attend the burial in the cemetery of a Muslim and a Christian at the same time. “As if to remind us that in the face of death there is no question of religion or social class.”
This tolerance has ended up conquering the hearts, not only of Senegalese, but also those of the thousands of Western visitors who go there each year. Joal-Fadiouth is among the most popular places for tourism in Senegal, we are told. “Today we are surprised at the number of people calling us for information about this place. Especially at this time, until December. Of course, visitors (Europeans, Americans, Africans) want to know more about the origins of the Poet President Léopold Sédar Senghor, but they also want to discover the cemetery. Its beauty has made it a tourist site by default. », Comments Rosalie Ndiaye, travel advisor at the Jumia Travel platform, whose regional office is based in Dakar.
The cemetery is a very important place for the inhabitants and as surprising as it may seem, it can be “visited”. Locals encourage visitors to come there. Accessible by canoe or by the small bridge. Well appointed and very clean.
“It is a pride to belong to this municipality, when people arrive here, they are immediately won over by the beauty of the village, but also by the community organization. Here religion is in our hearts, Christians and Muslims alike, practice unconditional acceptance of others. In fact, in each of our families, there are also many Christians and Muslims. Better they are mixed families. There are even animists, and we live in peace, ”says Ouseynou, resident and tourist guide.
