Portraits of Ethical Guidance

Youssef Carter discusses how images of Sheikh Amadou Bamba and Sheikh Ibra Fall serve as reminders of ethical living, human dignity, and spiritual commitment. In Senegal, visual culture reflects a celebratory and unapologetically Black Muslim identity, where honoring spiritual leaders inspires personal righteousness. Events like the Magal of Touba unite diverse communities in feeding guests and praising God, embodying hospitality and collective memory. These depictions don’t hold power themselves but symbolize a shared spiritual kinship and the ongoing call to live justly and compassionately.

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  • formal headshot of Youssef Carter wearing a brown jacket and black shirt

    Youssef

    Carter

    Assistant Professor and Kenan Rifai Fellow in Islamic Studies

    Department of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill