Serigne Amary Ngoné Ndack Seck
Founder of Thiénaba (1830 – 1899)
Family : Place of birth : Thiénaba Kadior, near Kébémer ; Date of birth : 1830 or 1831 depending on the source ; Mother : Ndack Fall (died 1867) ; Father : Cheikh Ahmed Saïb Seck (died 1860)
Education : He received from his father a solid education: fiqh (Islamic law), Arabic grammar and religious instruction. He also sought to deepen his knowledge of the Qur’an and the great theories of Sufism.
Action : In 1882 he founded the holy city of Thiénaba, in the Thiès region. In 1871 he received from Cheikhou Ahmadou Ba a letter inviting him to defend the cause of Islam; he fought at his side until the battle of Samba Sadio in 1875, before founding Thiénaba.
Spiritual legacy : Thiénaba, which he founded, is today an important religious centre, led by a caliph from his descendants. After he was called back to God, the leadership passed to his eldest son, Serigne Momar Talla Seck.