Father Henry Gravrand (France, 1921 – Abbey of Latrun, Palestine, 11 July 2003[1]) was a French Catholic missionary to Africa and an anthropologist who has written extensively on Serer religion and culture.
He was one of the leading pioneers of interfaith dialog and believed that African religion was the "'first covenant between God and man".
Papa Massène Sene argues that his approach lacks scientific rigor and include fundamental linguistic and historical errors.
[6] Alioune Sarr noted that Gravrand reported an oral tradition describing what he called the "Battle of Troubang", a dynastic war between the two maternal royal houses of Ñaanco and the Guelowar, an off-shot and relatives of the Ñaanco (Nyanthio or Nyanco) maternal dynasty of Kaabu, in modern-day Guinea Bissau.
[9] First missionary of the Congregation of Holy Spirit, Gravrand arrived in Senegal on 28 December 1948[10] and lived there for 40 years in the Sine area (the western part of the country).