In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Preface This book concerns the genesis and development of the Muridiyya of Senegal , and especially the role of education in its founding. Previous works have shed light on the political and economic dimensions of the Murid tariqa, and scholars have expounded on its remarkable capacity to adapt Islam to the local cultural context. This research draws on the abundant but largely untapped Murid internal oral, written, and iconographic sources, as well as archival data, to offer a comprehensive reconstruction of the history of the Muridiyya that pays special attention to the impact of the often overlooked Murid sheikhs’ and disciples’ voices. The book focuses on the early years of the tariqa’s founding, but the discussion of issues such as ethics, educational practices, sacred space, and memory provides clues for understanding the unusual ability of the Murid order to maintain cohesion and continuity across space and time. I wish to acknowledge the assistance and support provided by several institutions . A fellowship from the Rockefeller Foundation’s African Dissertation Internship Awards funded one year of field and archival research in Senegal. A merit fellowship from the College of Arts and Letters at Michigan State University made possible a semester of leave devoted to writing. I have benefited from the support of the West African Research Center in Dakar, which graciously offered office and computer facilities during my fieldwork in Senegal . I am also grateful to Saliou Mbaye, Mamadou Ndiaye, Babacar Ndiaye and all of the staff of the National Archives in Senegal. For their help, I would like to thank Al Hajj Mbakke, former head of the library Sheikh ul Khadim in Tuubaa; Serigne Mustafa Jatara, his successor; and their assistants. Gora Dia and his colleagues at the library of Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire (IFAN) have aided greatly. I thank Jean Pierre Diouf and Abou Moussa Ndongo at the documentation center of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) for their assistance. I am particularly grateful to my hosts, colleagues, and informants in Senegal . My friends Aida and Grégoire Lawson welcomed me into their beautiful ix You are reading copyrighted material published by Ohio University Press/Swallow Press. Unauthorized posting, copying, or distributing of this work except as permitted under U.S. copyright law is illegal and injures the author and publisher. house and made my stays in Dakar both pleasant and fruitful. I thank Ibrahima Thioub and Charles Becker for sharing references and useful comments on my work. I have also benefited from the support of numerous Murid sheikhs, disciples, and teachers who opened their private libraries to me and graciously gave their time to respond to my questions. Omitting the names of some of them here does not in any way diminish my gratitude to them. I particularly wish to thank Afia Niang, Serigne Modu Maamun Niang, my late mentor, Serigne Mbakke Astu, the late Sawru Mbay, Sheikh Bass Anta Niang Mbakke, the late Sheikh Mustafa Ceytu, Mustapha Ley, Mustafa Njaate Mbakke, Sheikh Maam Balla Mbakke, the late Sheikh Khadime Mbakke, and Al Hajj Jakhate. My childhood friend Ahmadu Fall has long followed my work and has been a constant support in the pursuit of my research on the Muridiyya. Several colleagues have read and commented on earlier drafts, in whole or in part. I would like to give special recognition to my friend and mentor, David Robinson, whose unwavering backing and encouragement have been a constant source of inspiration. I have benefited greatly from the close reading and suggestions of Ellen Foley, Steve Feierman, Louis Brenner, Allen Roberts, Lee Cassanelli, and Jonathan Steinberg. I would also like to thank Boubacar Barry, Khadim Mbakke, and Marty Klein for discussions and feedback . These colleagues’ observations and suggestions have immensely contributed to the quality of this work. I must also express my thanks to the two anonymous external reviewers and to Jean Allman and Allen Isaacman, editors of the New African Histories series , for their insightful suggestions. The recommendations of Gill Berchowitz, my principal editor at Ohio University Press, and John Morris, my project editor , and Joan Sherman, who copyedited the manuscript, have considerably enhanced the value of this work. My warmest gratitude belongs to my wife, Faatim Joob, and to Jaara. I am eternally indebted to them for their love and support. Just as I was putting the last touches on this work, Faatim and I were graced with a baby boy, Bamba Idrissa Babou. Bamba’s joyful companionship has made the task...

Share