Defying difficult roads and the rainy season thousands of Muslims again thronged Bansang, arriving from all countries in the sub-region including Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and of course the Gambia for the annual Ziyarrah. The Ziyarrah, the 26th this year is held annually in honour of the late Sheikh Alhaji Bubacar Zaidi Jallow (RA), who presided as imam of Bansang for close to seventy years until he passed away in 1998. He was as well a renowned Islamic scholar and author of some sixteen books on Islam, and also an eminent Khalif of the Tijanniyya Sufi order on which he also wrote. He was a teacher who passed his knowledge, experience and prayers to countless students and adherents from all over the sub-region.

This years Ziyarrah was presided over by the current Khalif Sheikh Alhajie Hassan Bubacar Zaidi Jallow taking time off from his other function as Chief Prosecutor of the UN Rwanda War Crimes Tribunal-and supported by his brothers Dr Alhaji Amadou Tijan Jallow, Alhaji Mamsait Jallow, Cherno Junaidi Jallow and Alhaji Aasif .Tallow drew not only multitudes of Muslims but also renowned Islamic scholars from the region. Among whom were Imam Alhaji Abdul Qadir Jomfo from Futa Jallon in Guinea, Imam Alhaji Bubacar Jallow of Mansuang in Guinea Bissau, Imam Alhaji Alieu Cham of Fouta Toro in Senegal, Alhaji Bah Imam of the Zawiyya Malick Sey in Dakar, Alhaji Lamin Taal representing his father Sheikh Ahmad Tall a close disciple of the late Sheikh and many others. The Gambia government was represented by a high-powered delegation led by Ganji Touray, Governor of the CRR, the DPS of the DOS for Religious Affairs and members of the supreme Islamic Council in the persons of Alhaji Jobarteh and Alhaji Sillah. The Alkalo of Bansang was in attendance. The district chief was also represented. Among the participants was Aja Madame Danny Diouf Diagne a Senegalese Minister with her family members.

The Ziyarrah is an occasion for prayers, preaching, the renewal of vows of members of the Tijanniya order and the initiation of new members into the order.

The ceremony kicked off on Friday morning the l0th with several recitations of the Holy Quran. The Khalif then initiated new members into the Tijanniya order and renewed the vows of older members. Friday afternoon juma prayer was led by Imam Alhaji Momodou Jallow (Zawiyya) and was followed by more recitations of the Holy Quran. At 6.45p.m worshippers gathered at the Bansang Central Mosque for the Hadrat Juma-the traditional chant of the Tijanniya.

The night programme comprised recitations of the Holy Quran, the chanting of religious songs and preaching. In his opening remarks the Khalif welcomed worshippers with thanks to the elders and compound owners of Bansang for hosting the visitors. The Khalif and the preachers who followed him emphasized three issues-the importance of Muslims to be true to the five pillars of Islam and to scrupulously observe them; the need for members of the Tijanniyya to discharge their Zikr duties; the importance of good personal conduct and behaviour to strengthen ones faith. The virtues of patience, honesty, hard work, humility, generosity without waste, forgiveness, truthfulness, peace and good neighbourliness were emphasized. Regarding the renovation of the Islamic centre at Bustaamal Aarifi the Caliph thanked and prayed for all those, including President Yahya Jammeh who had contributed to the project.

The Friday night ceremony concluded by 6.30a.m. A few hours later on Saturday morning the Ziyarrah concluded with the graduation of 13 students including a lady, who had concluded the Tafsir i.e. translation and commentary of the Holy Quran. This stage is traditionally regarded as the pinnacle of an Islamic Students Formal education. Also graduating on reading and reciting of various stages of the Holy Quran were some 40 Students from the Gambia, Senegal Guinea and Guinea Bissau.