Islam and Social Change in French West Africa: History of an Emancipatory Community: 110 (African Studies, Series Number 110) - Softcover

Hanretta, Sean

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521156297 ISBN 13: 9780521156295

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2010

Synopsis

Exploring the history and religious community of a group of Muslim Sufi mystics in colonial French West Africa, this study shows the relationship between religious, social and economic change in the region. It highlights the role that intellectuals played in shaping social and cultural change and illuminates the specific religious ideas and political contexts that gave their efforts meaning. In contrast to depictions that emphasize the importance of international networks and anti-modern reaction in twentieth-century Islamic reform, this book claims that, in West Africa, such movements were driven by local forces and constituted only the most recent round in a set of centuries-old debates about the best way for pious people to confront social injustice. It argues that traditional historical methods prevent an appreciation of Muslim intellectual history in Africa by misunderstanding the nature of information gathering during colonial rule and misconstruing the relationship between documents and oral history.

About this title

Review:

'... this book is a valuable contribution both to African colonial and postcolonial history and also to the sociology of religion. In addition to providing a history of a movement about which little is known, it raises a number of important questions pertaining to African historiography.' The Journal of African History

'[A] rich and intellectually ambitious work.' Gregory Mann, Islamic Africa

Book Description:

Exploring the history of a group of Muslim Sufi mystics and their religious community in colonial French West Africa, this study shows the relationship between religious, social and economic change in the region. It highlights the role that the people played in shaping social and cultural change.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0521156297
• ISBN 13: 9780521156295
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 328