By Dawan Africa - -
Mogadishu, 22 August 2026 Followers of Sheikh Mohamed Nur Bukhari drove hundreds of camels toward the group’s headquarters this week as prayers for the Prophet and religious chants filled the air, in one of the most distinctive scenes marking Mawlid preparations in Somalia.
While Mawlid celebrations in many Arab and Muslim countries are often associated with sweets and popular traditions, the occasion takes a different form among Bukhari’s followers, where camels feature prominently alongside communal meals, religious gatherings and prayers.
The group traditionally marks the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday throughout Rabi’ al-Awwal. Followers donate large numbers of camels, which are slaughtered and prepared for communal meals.
This year, the group allocated more than 1,500 camels for the Mawlid. The animals were donated by Bukhari’s followers and are being distributed between the group’s main center and other Sufi centers taking part in the celebrations.
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Celebrations continue throughout Rabi’ al-Awwal, with communal meals and food distribution held alongside chanting, praise gatherings and prayers, a tradition the group has maintained for years.
Bukhari is regarded as one of Somalia’s prominent Sufi leaders. He is also known for teaching major Islamic hadith collections, including Sahih al-Bukhari, which he taught in parts of Somalia and Ethiopia and from which his title is derived.
According to his followers, the choice of camels reflects their importance in Somali society. Camels are considered among the most valuable possessions and a source of pride, and offering them for Mawlid is seen as an expression of love for the Prophet Muhammad.
As herds arrive at the group’s headquarters amid prayers and chants, what many followers regard as among the most valuable possessions in Somali communities is transformed into communal meals throughout Rabi’ al-Awwal, in what they describe as an expression of devotion.