Magal de Touba is observed in Senegal every year on August 13, commemorating the exile of Ahmadou Bamba, a significant religious leader during the French colonization. This grand pilgrimage attracts millions of followers to the city of Touba, which Bamba founded in 1887 and where he is buried. The festival honors Bamba’s legacy and the founding of the Mouride Brotherhood, the most prominent religious order in Senegal and the Gambia. Bamba was exiled by the French colonial government due to concerns over his influence, spending 12 years in exile, which only increased his following. Annually, his followers gather at the Great Mosque in Touba to participate in this important religious observance.