minister, Mame Madior Boye. Shia Islam Shia Islam in Senegal is practiced by small number of Senegalese people, as well as by the Lebanese community in Senegal. Shia Islam is the primary religion of the Lebanese community in Senegal, which has been established in Senegal for over a century. It is also practiced by a growing number of native Senegalese, including the Wolof and Fula peoples. Since the 1970s, and especially with the arrival of the Mozdahir community and their leader Cherif Mohamed Aly Aidara in the early 2000s, the number of native Shi'i Senegalese has steadily increased in both urban and rural areas. According to Leichtman (2017), Mozdahir's various rural development projects help bridge the urban-rural divide among Shi'i Muslims in Senegal, and have helped to increase the number of Shi'i Muslims in Senegal. Popular culture The importance of Sufism is evident in Senegal's modern popular culture. Nearly every Senegalese singer has a song incorporating themes of Sufi history. Especially common are praise songs honoring individual Sufi leaders, as well as work having to do with the controversy of spiritual leaders involving themselves in politics. International stars such as Baaba Maal and Youssou N'Dour incorporate Sufi themes into their work. Youssou N'Dour's entire album Egypt deals with Sufism. N'Dour describes the album as an exploration of his own personal faith, as well as a means of connecting North African and Arab Islam to West African Sufism. See also Senegal Muslim brotherhoods of Senegal Mouride Tijani Sufism Islam in Africa Shia Islam in Africa Shia Islam in Senegal Notes Mbye, 447-448 Ousman, 80-82 References Abdelkérim Ousman, "The Potential of Islamist Terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa", International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society, Volume 18, Issue 1 - 2, Dec 2004, pp. 65 Mbye B. Cham, "Islam in Senegalese Literature and Film", Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, Vol. 55, No. 4, Popular Islam, 1985 pp. 447–464. Senegal. CIA World Factbook''. January 10, 2005.