El Hadji Djily Mbaye
Businessman and philanthropist of Louga (1927 – 1991)
Family : Place of birth : Louga ; Date of birth : 1927 ; Father : Mame Cheikh Mbaye (Ahmadou Sakhir Mbaye)
Education : His father wished him to study the Islamic sciences at Koki; he received a Qur’anic education, belonged to the first class of the Koki daara and then turned to trade, with his father’s blessing.
Action : He began with small trade between the Jolof, Linguère and Saint-Louis, taking the train between Louga and Linguère. He expanded into real estate, agriculture and industry and became one of Senegal’s best-known businessmen. When Louga became a region in 1976, he had the Ahmadou Sakhir Mbaye regional hospital, the Lycée Malick Sall, the Bagdad district and a seven-kilometre paved road built. He founded several Qur’anic schools and defended Qur’anic education. His palace in Louga, built between 1975 and 1979, welcomed heads of state.
Spiritual legacy : He was called back to God in 1991 and rests in Louga. A recognised philanthropist, he left Louga many public and religious buildings. His life is told in “El Hadj Djily Mbaye: la saga d’un sage milliardaire” (2018).