Obituary: Alioune Tine in mourning

Alioune Tine is in mourning. The founder of Afrikajom Center announced on Wednesday the death of his older brother, Papa Malick Tine, imam ratib of the Pikine mosque.

Alioune Tine announced on Wednesday the death of his older brother, Papa Malick Tine, the imam ratib of the Pikine mosque. In a message posted on the social network X, he paid a heartfelt tribute to the man he described as his spiritual guide and an important figure in his family.

“He was my khalifa, the one my father had chosen to be a Serigne,” he confided, reflecting on his brother’s religious journey. Papa Malick Tine had begun his Quranic studies in Marsassoum, under the marabout Mbal Fodé Gassama, before continuing his training with Cherif Hamdi Moustapha Aidara in Ziguinchor.

According to Alioune Tine's testimony, this training had notably enabled him to acquire a good mastery of reading the Quran, diction and phrasing.

Imam Papa Malick Tine's life was deeply intertwined with religion. Reciting the Quran, prayers, serving at the mosque, and mentoring local youth constituted the core of his daily life. He was also described as a sociable, humble, open, devoted, and deeply committed man.

Beyond his religious responsibilities, the deceased was also appreciated for his sense of humor. "He made humor an art of living," emphasizes his brother, who indicates that he could even have rivaled the greatest comedians in the country, without ever wanting to make it a profession.

Deeply attached to his community, Papa Malick Tine received a significant outpouring of support at the time of his funeral. Residents, imams, and young people from the neighborhood mobilized to provide for his needs, an initiative for which Alioune Tine expressed his gratitude.