Introduction

In the era following World War I, Darou Mousty continued to grow and to enjoy a good deal of relative prosperity. Maam Cerno further strengthened his position as the Murid leader of Cayor while the town became an even more attractive location for immigrants. Considering all of the satellite villages that Maam Cerno created near Darou Mousty and the agricultural production of the region, it could be argued that Maam Cerno had effectively created a sphere in which Murid modernization could take place. After World War I, Darou Mousty was transformed from a Murid settlement into the Murid center of Cayor. The town and its leader thus became involved, whether unwittingly or not, in larger religious, economic, and political issues within the colony of Senegal. Similarly, after 1918, there was a change in French policies and attitudes toward the Murid order. This change would offer new opportunities and new challenges from the direction of French efforts toward modernization in the interior of Senegal. A spirit of cooperation, particularly in economic and political matters, began to replace French fear and suspicion of the Murids. In fact, during the period following World War I, we can see the maturation of a symbiotic relationship between Murid and French modernization efforts resulting in a discernable impact upon Murid notions of modernity.

After the death of Amadu Bamba in 1927 and the ascension of his eldest son, Muhammadu Moustapha, as the first khalifah-général of the order, Maam Cerno continued to lead Darou Mousty.