HARLEM, N.Y., October 2024 — Souleye, Noreyni, Mame Cheikh and other Baye Fall men, members of a subgroup of the Mouride Sufi Islamic brotherhood, gather almost every evening on the same corner of West 116th Street in Harlem during fall 2024.
Harlem, October 2024 — A bayefall on his way from the corner to dahira — a weekly Mouride Sufi Islamic gathering exclusively for Baye Falls in Harlem.
Harlem, October 2024 — Bamba before the evening gathering at the corner. Bamba and his twin brother, Noreyni, sell AirPods on Lexington Avenue.
Harlem, November 2024 — Members from the usual corner join Dahira — a weekly Mouride gathering exclusively for Baye Falls in Harlem, organized by their religious leader, Jourigne Baye Bass.
Harlem, October 2024 — Baye Falls from the usual corner sing and drum sam falls — a chant to worship Allah during the Dahira gathering.
Harlem, October 2024 —A Baye Fall on the corder holds Ndombou Baat, a necklace with an image of a mouride religious leader in Senegal.
Harlem, October 2024 — The guys from the corner share a meal together before going back to the shelter.
The Baye Falls stay at one of New York City’s shelters.
Harlem, November 2024 —Souleye from the corner talks with his girlfriend in Senegal over the phone.
Harlem, October 27, 2024 — Souleye talks with Noreyni, while providing an informal dreadlock service. While awaiting work authorization, Souleye supported himself by offering informal hair services to members of his community.
Bronx, February, 2025 — Baye Falls from the corner. After leaving the shelter, they moved in with other members of Jouwine Baye Bass’s Dahira, sharing an apartment in the Bronx.
Bronx, February, 2025 —Inside an apartment on 180th Street in Bronx, March 2025. Three Baye Falls and one Yaye Fall (the female counterpart of the Baye Fall) share a living space.
Detroit, December 2024 — Noreyni from the corner. After receiving his Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card, he moved from the shelter to an apartment in Detroit, where his brother had already secured a job. ,
Michigan — A Baye Fall man who asks not to be identified sits in the bedroom he shares with three others in Michigan on Saturday, December 28, 2024. He previously lived in New York’s shelter system and says having his own space made him realize how difficult his time in the shelter had been.
Detroit, December 2025 — Noreyni started his second job at a restaurant in Detroit.
Detroit, December 2025 — Noreyni would unwind after long days at the restaurant by chatting with his Senegalese friends back home. He had no days off that month, working nonstop as both a dishwasher and cook.
Detroit, December 2025 — Noreyni, working nonstop as both a dishwasher and cook.
Bronx December 11, 2025 BRONX, N.Y., Dec. 11, Bronx, March 2026 — Souleye and bayefalls gather to break the Ramadan fast at his new home.
Bronx December 11, 2025 — Souleye and bayefall from the corner, were playing video games together at Souleye’s new house in the Bronx. Souleye used to live with six other men, but he recently moved to a new place shared with four other Senegaleses and a 1 year old. Souleye said it’s much quieter now—living with eight people had made it hard for him to sleep.
Bronx December 11, 2025 — Souleye and other baye falls, were playing video games together at Souleye’s new house in the Bronx.
Bronx, March 2026 — Souleuye stands in his apartment in the Bronx. He now has his own room and works two jobs, delivering food and providing informal hair services.
Bronx, March 2026 — Souleuye in his apartment.
Detroit, December 2025 — Noreyni tells me he wish he had a car so he could commute on his own—but saving up is difficult, as he sends nearly all of his earnings to his family in Senegal.