A Path to Integration
Senegalese Tijanis in Cape Town1
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2137609 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Susana Molins Llitera (0000-0002-0978-6623, University of Cape Town, corresponding author), Susana Molins Lliteras |
| Year | 2009 |
| Volume | 68 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 215-233 |
| Publication date | 2009-08-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | African Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0002-0184 • E-ISSN: 1469-2872 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00020180903109607 |
| OpenAlex | W1988718523 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 7 |
In a case study of the Niassene branch of the Senegalese Tijaniyya in Cape Town, this article argues that Senegalese migrants create authentic belonging for themselves by adhering to an expression of Islam that manifested in their home country. At the same time, however, this Senegalese form of Islam attracts South Africans because of how it offers a new way of conceptualising the self in a post-racial country based on the African origin of its founder. In the context of a South Africa emerging from a racist past, this Islam offers new ways of breaking down racial divisions, and creating shared understandings of moral behaviour and definitions of humanity – a different understanding of what it means to be Muslim, to be a black Muslim, and to be black. The resulting mixed membership of Senegalese migrants and South African citizens triggers tensions in the Tijaniyya around questions on the role of cultural and territorial authority. Keywords: IslammigrantsreligionSenegalTijaniyya tariqa transnational migration Notes The research for this article is partly based on my Master's dissertation (Molins Lliteras 2005 Molins Lliteras, Susana. 2005. "The Tijaniyya Tariqa in Cape Town: The "Normalization" of Race Relations in South Africa". University of Cape Town. MA dissertation [Google Scholar]). The terms 'Cape Malay', 'Indian' and 'black' used in this article are problematic and contested. Nevertheless, since these categories are a legal and social fact in contemporary South Africa, I adhere to the terms as used in the 2001 Census. For a more detailed discussion of the methodological and theoretical framework refer to my Master's dissertation (Molins Lliteras 2005 Molins Lliteras, Susana. 2005. "The Tijaniyya Tariqa in Cape Town: The "Normalization" of Race Relations in South Africa". University of Cape Town. MA dissertation [Google Scholar]). All ethnographic data cited in this article refer to the interviews mentioned, and can be accessed through the author. Most Tijanis were very open when answering questions except for the last category, for which they always referred me back to the leadership for answers. Handbook: Tariqa Tijaniyya. Juma'a is the collective Friday prayer compulsory for Muslim men and the dhikr al-Juma'a is the central Tijani ritual performed every Friday evening. This information was provided by the da'aira's president, Abdoulaye Thiam, and confirmed by other members of the association. For a defence of female muqaddams, see Bayat and Abubakr 2009. Bonteheuwel is a coloured blue-collar suburb twenty kilometres from Cape Town, and Cravenby is a working-class Indian suburb outside Cape Town. Since Shaykh Hassan's death in August 2008, they are now waiting for instructions from his successor on what to do with the money collected. Fakhruddin Owaisi, email to South African Tijani list, 15 March 2008. As I was revising the final version of this article (May 2009), the two organisations were joined together under the name of Daira Nasrul-Ilm (Cape) and a combined leadership of the two was elected, thus reinforcing the trend towards unity. We will have to wait and see how the issues antagonising the organisations will be tackled or resolved (Owaisi, email to South African Tijani list, 17 May 2009). The Muridiyya is another West African tariqa founded in the early twentieth century in Senegal by Amadou Bamba, and which spread mainly among the Wolof. The Mourides have been the focus of much academic research due to their impressive economic strength in Senegal and, more recently, because of their well-organised international networks of trade. There are also Mourides in South Africa and Cape Town (see Zubillaga 2009 Zubillaga, Teresa. 2009. "Towards a History of a Senegalese tariqa in Cape Town". University of Cape Town. MA thesis [Google Scholar
Archaeology · Cape · Context (archaeology · Geography · Humanity · Islam · Political science · Sociology · African history and culture analysis · Gender Studies · Law · Religion and Sociopolitical Dynamics in Nigeria · Religion, Society, and Development
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,08 |
| Citation span | 2013 - 2013 (1) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |