ABSTRACT
Faith, informed by practices, teachings, and shared ideas, can become a way of life as well as a way to define one's self. Laye, a Baay Fall who grew up Tijani, talks about his dedication to faith through deliberate, and often difficult, life choices. He and a number of other Baay Falls, living in different towns, spoke of these decisions as a faith-based way of life. They referred to Baayfallisme as an all-encompassing way of life similar to ways Rama and Rougie talked about Tijanisme and Ismaï la and Maam, Muridisme. Laye eventually reconciled with his family, especially his father, who saw Tijanism as not only a religious identity but also a family identity. Laye's story highlights the mystical experiences that are prevalent in Baay Fall understandings of Sufism. In a more earthly concern, his family's and in-laws' reactions to his choices reflect the sometimes negative popular opinions toward Baay Fall adherents.
