Thierno Aliou

Thierno Aliou Bhoubha Ndian (Thierno Aliou Bah; c. 1850 in Donghol – 23 March 1927 at Labé) was an important Fula author, Muslim theologian and politician in Fouta-Djalon, French West Africa.

Thierno Aliou was descended from Ali Kali Doukouré, whose grandson, Thierno Malal (who took the name Bah after he married a woman from that clan) came from Diafouna (modern Mali) and spent time in Koin near a mountain which he named Diafouna.

Later he moved on to Labé and met Karamoko Alpha at Dimbin who offered him presents and an estate for his family, but he was content with a small plot for his grave which he dug himself. Astonished by such great virtue, Karamoko Alpha named him Imam Ratib - a title inherited by his son Thierno Abdourrahman, who served Karamoko Alpha in his new palace at Missidé Hindé (which was later left to the family of Modi Younoussa, great grandfather of Thierno Diawo Pellel) and died there.

Eventually, after Karamoko Alpha had settled definitively at Labé, he sent for the two children of Thierno Malal and the seven sons of Thierno Abdourrahman. He died ten years later, but the Imamate he had conferred continued to be inherited in the family of Thierno Malal, passing to Thierno Mamadou Bano, Thierno Mamadou and then to Thierno Aliou.

Thierno Aliou studied the Quran under his father Thierno Mamadou; he completed his secondary and tertiary studies in the school of three great scholars of the time: his uncle Thierno Abdoulaye Ndouyêdio, Thierno Boubacar Poti Séléyanké of Dimbin and Thierno Abdourrahmane Kaldouyanké of Sombili (also called Thierno Doura).
He pursued the traditional subjects of the Islamic education (theology, Arabic language, literature, grammar, etc.). He mastered Arabic literature, which allowed him to write a number of works in this language and to serve as an interpreter for the Chiefs of Labé whenever they had Arab guests.

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