The Seat of Drought: Religious Thought and the Sahelian Famine (1968–74) in Mali, West Africa

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the environment across the Sahel dried out and escalated into one of the largest famines in recorded history. This article expands understanding of the famine by presenting an ethno-history of religious practice in Mali during this crisis. Here I uncover a new dimension of this critical time by offering insight into the ways in which ordinary Malians and religious leaders alike used ritual to find some relief from harsh environmental conditions. By reviewing a range of teachings and practices, this study highlights the position and practices of both Islam and indigenous religion that Malians used to manage the environment and communities in a newly independent Mali.