Tivaouane: an international Islamic book fair to promote manuscript heritage

Tivaouane is preparing to host a new major cultural and scientific event on the occasion of Mawlid 2026. The first edition of the Tivaouane International Islamic Book and Manuscripts Fair (SILMI T 2026) will be held from August 20 to 25, 2026, on the sidelines of the Bourda and Mawlid (Gamou) days.

The initiative is carried out by the Zawiya Tijaniyya Cell, in collaboration with COSKAS, AJANA, SIRAJ, CRAC as well as PROJET de Tivaouane. The event is placed under the spiritual authority of the Caliph General of the Tidjanes, Serigne Babacar Sy Mansour, and under the sponsorship of the President of the Republic of Senegal. The Kingdom of Morocco was designated as the guest country of honor. The official opening of the Show is scheduled for Thursday August 20 at 10 a.m. in Tivaouane.

Islamic manuscripts in the digital age

For this first edition, the organizers have chosen the theme: “Manuscript heritage and spiritual heritage: between human intelligence and the transmission of Islamic knowledge in the digital age”.

Through this theme, SILMI T 2026 intends to open a reflection on the issues linked to the conservation, digitization and transmission of Islamic manuscripts. The objective is in particular to combine the requirements of preserving this heritage with the new possibilities offered by digital technologies.

For five days, the Show will bring together ulemas, researchers, academics, cultural and academic institutions, digital and conservation specialists, publishers, bibliophiles and players in the cultural world.

Exhibitions, conferences and innovation

The program provides for several activities intended to combine traditional knowledge and technological innovation. International conferences and scientific panels, calligraphy and digitization workshops, as well as exhibitions of rare manuscripts are announced.

A hackathon dedicated to artificial intelligence and heritage is also on the program, as is an international book market.

Particular attention will be paid to the intellectual heritage of Tivaouane. A scientific panel will be devoted in particular to the Diwan of Seydi El Hadj Malick Sy. The organizers also announce a tribute to Serigne Samba Diagne, in recognition of his commitment to writing, calligraphy and the dissemination of the works of Muslim scholars.

Morocco, guest of honor

The choice of Morocco as guest country of honor also gives the Show a diplomatic and cultural dimension. The organizers intend to take advantage of this participation to strengthen exchanges between Senegal and the Kingdom of Morocco in the cultural, academic and religious fields.

Moroccan institutions, ulemas and experts are expected in Tivaouane to take part in the various activities of the Show.

Making Tivaouane a center of Islamic heritage

Beyond this first edition, SILMI T 2026 aims to permanently include Tivaouane in international networks devoted to books and written Islamic heritage.

The organizers wish in particular to promote African manuscript heritage, promote a cultural economy around books, encourage young people to appropriate digital tools for the transmission of knowledge and strengthen the intellectual influence of Tivaouane.

Through this initiative, the religious city intends to create a dialogue between tradition and modernity, by putting contemporary technologies at the service of the conservation and transmission of a written heritage rich in several centuries.

SILMI T 2026 therefore presents itself as a cultural, scientific and spiritual meeting, with the ambition of contributing to preserving Islamic manuscript memory while opening it to new generations.

CG DIOP