Tivaouane or Tivawan ( wo, Tiwaawan; french: Tivaouane) is a city located in the

Thiès Region Thiès is a region of western Senegal. The capital is also called Thiès. Geography Thiès has two coastlines, one in the north with the Grande Côte housing the Niayes vegetable market, one to the south with the Petite Côte, one of the tour ...

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...

History

Tivaouane was part of the Wolof kingdom of

Cayor Cayor ( wo, Kajoor; ar, كاجور) was the largest and most powerful kingdom (1549–1879) that split off from the Jolof Empire in what is now Senegal. Cayor was located in northern and central Senegal, southeast of Walo, west of the kingdom ...

, and was at one time its capital. It was first described to Europeans in the 15th century by

Venetian Venetian often means from or related to: * Venice, a city in Italy * Veneto, a region of Italy * Republic of Venice (697–1797), a historical nation in that area Venetian and the like may also refer to: * Venetian language, a Romance language s ...

explorer Luigi Cada-Mosto. In 1904, it was the fifth largest city in Sénégal after Saint-Louis, Dakar,

Rufisque Rufisque ( ar, روفيسك; Wolof: Tëngeéj) is a city in the Dakar region of western Senegal, at the base of the Cap-Vert Peninsula. It has a population of 179,797 (2002 census). In the past it was an important port city in its own right, ...

and

Gorée (; "Gorée Island"; Wolof: Beer Dun) is one of the 19 (i.e. districts) of the city of Dakar, Senegal. It is an island located at sea from the main harbour of Dakar (), famous as a destination for people interested in the Atlantic slave trad ...

. It is also one of the sacred places of the

Tijaniyya The Tijāniyyah ( ar, الطريقة التجانية, Al-Ṭarīqah al-Tijāniyyah, The Tijānī Path) is a Sufi tariqa (order, path), originating in the Maghreb but now more widespread in West Africa, particularly in Senegal, The Gambia, ...

Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...

brotherhood. Each week, followers come to visit the tombs of religious leaders, especially that of El-Hadji

Malick Sy El-Hadji Malick Sy ( ff, Allaaji Maalik Si, 1853–1922) was a Senegalese religious leader and teacher in the Tijaniyya Sufi Malikite and Ash'arite brotherhood. Life Born in Gaya, northern Senegal, to a Fulani family, El-Hadji Malick Sy traveled ...

. Visitors flock each year to celebrate the birth of the prophet

Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the mon ...

in a festival called the Maouloud (or ''Gamou'', in Wolof, a word borrowed from one of the Serer religious festivals). The influence of the

Muslim brotherhoods of Senegal This is a list of Sufi orders (Tariqas) in Senegal (and also the Gambia). They are active Muslim organizations that can also be found in many other parts of Africa and the Islamic world. Their members are mainly Wolofs, Fulas and Tocouleurs. ...

helps to explain the dramatic demographic growth of the city, which had a population of less than 7900 in 1960. Mosquée Serigne Babacar Sy 2

In 2003, the mosque and zawia (Muslim school) of El-Hadji

, the mosque of and the railway station were added to the list of Senegalese historic monuments. In 2022, the recently inaugurated Hospital in Tivaouane caught fire due to a short circuit. The neonatal department burned down to the ground, with 11 newborn babies dead.

Administration

Tivaouane is the capital of the

Tivaouane Department Tivaouane Department is one of the 45 departments of Senegal, and one of the three in the Thiès Region. Its capital is Tivaouane. The department has three urban communes: Mboro, Meckhe and Tivaouane. The rural districts (''communautés rura ...

in the région de Thiès.

Geography

Tivaouane is a regional transport hub, where the ''route nationale n° 2'' connecting

Dakar Dakar ( ; ; wo, Ndakaaru) (from daqaar ''tamarind''), is the capital and largest city of Senegal. The city of Dakar proper has a population of 1,030,594, whereas the population of the Dakar metropolitan area is estimated at 3.94 million in 2 ...

and Saint-Louis passes near

Thiès Thiès (; ar, ثيس, Ṯyass; Noon language, Noon: ''Chess'') is the third largest city in Senegal with a population officially estimated at 320,000 in 2005. It lies east of Dakar on the N2 road (Senegal), N2 road and at the junction of railwa ...

. The nearest small towns are Yendam, Keur Massamba Daguene, Selko, Ndiagane, Keur Assane, et Sintiou Pir.

Population

Between the censuses of 1988 and 2002, Tivaouane grew from 27,117 to 38,213 inhabitants. In 2007, according to official estimates, the population has grown to 39,766, which makes it the 15th largest city in Senegal. Wolofs are the largest ethnic group in the area.

Economy

Tivaouane is in an agricultural region, at the heart of the ''bassin arachidier'' of

Arachide oil Peanut oil, also known as groundnut oil or arachis oil, is a vegetable oil derived from peanuts. The oil usually has a mild or neutral flavor but, if made with roasted peanuts, has a stronger peanut flavor and aroma. It is often used in American ...

(Peanut oil) production. Catering to religious gatherings and celebrations also plays a great role in the economy.

Notes

External links

Maps, weather and airports for Tivaouane

Site du CEM Ababacar Sy
(Collège d'enseignement moyen de Tivaouane) {{Authority control Populated places in Thiès Region Communes of Senegal