Religious Motivations for Local Economic Development in Senegal

Environmental and economic crises, including land degradation from drought and increased global food prices, have become localized challenges for communities across the Sahel. Towns throughout central Senegal have struggled to maintain the agricultural and business enterprises on which they once relied. Ndem, a village within this region, has addressed these challenges through its artisanal cooperative, now incorporated into a nongovernmental organization. While Ndem's leaders have sound business plans, this essay argues that the continued viability of both the village and the cooperative is the result of a community-shared spiritual motivation for the work. Islam, the Murid Sufi order, and the Baay Fall suborder of the Muridiyya provide teachings that directly influence Ndem's spiritual life and business practices.