Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T14:45:58.042Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Politicians of the Sacred Grove: Citizenship and Ethnicity in Southern Senegal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

Ferdinand de Jong
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article examines the traditional initiation of the former Senegalese Minister of Agriculture. At the age of fifty-five the Catholic Minister was initiated into the secrets of the sacred grove and thus acquired the status of adult man. The article demonstrates that Jola ethnic discourse, in which male initiation has become an important symbol, forced the Minister to enter the grove. His initiation turned him into a full member of the Jola ethnic group and qualified him as a trustworhty man capable of representing the people. In the campaign of the Socialist Party internal elections the Minister's initiation nevertheless became a major issue. The electorate did not show unswerving loyalty to ‘their’ Minister and nominated a non-initiate. The electorate suddenly changed their standards of apt political representation. The article contributes to the contemporary debate on citizenship and primary patriotism by showing that the Senegalese easily shift their position from subject to citizen, and thus empower themselves vis-à-vis elusive politicians. It also shows that politicians penetrate Jola practices of secrecy and thereby further the Jola's integration into the national public sphere.

Résumé

Cet article examine l'initiation traditionnelle de l'ancien Ministre sénégalais de l'Agriculture. A l'âge de cinquante cinq ans, ce Ministre catholique fut initié aux secrets du bosquet sacré et acquit à cette occasion le statut d'homme adulte. L'article démontre que le discours ethnique jola, dans lequel l'initiation des hommes est devenue un symbole important, a forcé le Ministre à intégrer le bosquet. Cette initiation a fait de lui un membre à part entière du groupe ethnique jola et lui confère le statut d'homme digne de confiance capable de représenter la population. Lors de la campagne menée à l'occasion des elections internes du Parti Socialiste, l'initiation du Ministre a néanmoins été l'objet de débats. L'electoral, loin de manifester une loyauté absolue envers “leur” Ministre, a nommé un non-initié. L'électorat a subitement change ses critères d'aptitude à la representation politique. L'article contribue au débat contemporain sur la citoyenneté et le patriotisme primaire en montrant que les Sénégalais passent facilement de la position de sujet à celle de citoyen, et disposent ainsi d'un pouvoir face aux politiciens insaisissables. Il montre également que les politiciens s'intègrent dans la pratique du secret jola et favorisent ainsi l'intégration des Jola dans le domaine public national.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 72 , Issue 2 , May 2002 , pp. 203 - 220
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abbink, Jan.. 1997. ‘Ethnicity and constitutionalism in contemporary Ethiopia’, Journal of African Law 41 159–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Africa. 1998. Vol. 68 (3), thematic issue on Primary Patriotism.Google Scholar
Africa Today. 1998. Vol. 45 34,thematic issue on Citizenship in AfricaGoogle Scholar
Amselle, , Jean-Loup, and Elikia M'Bokolo, (eds). 1985 Au coeur de I'ethnie :ethnies, tribalisme et état en Afrique. ParisEditions la DécouverteGoogle Scholar
Azarya, Victor. 1998. ‘Reordering state-society relations: incorporation and disengagement’, in Rothchild, D.Chazan, N. (eds), The Precarious Balance: state and society in Africa, pp. 3–21Boulder CO: Westview Press.Google Scholar
Barker, Jan.. 1973. ‘Political factionalism in Senegal’, Canadian Journal of African Studies 9 (1) 23–42.Google Scholar
Baum, Robert. 1999. Shrines of the Slave Trade: Diola religion and society in precolonial Senegambia. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press,.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bayart, Jean-François. 1983a. ‘La revanche des sociétés africaines’, Politique africaine 11 95–127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bayart, Jean-François. 1983b. ‘Les sociétés africaines face à l'Etat’, Pouvoirs 25 23–39.Google Scholar
Bayart, Jean-François. 1986. ‘Civil society in Africa’, in Chabal, P. (ed.), Political Domination in Africa: reflections on the limit of power, pp. 109–25. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bayart, Jean-François. 1993. The State in Africa: the politics of the belly. London and New York: Longman,.Google Scholar
Burnham, Philip. 1996. The Politics of Cultural Difference in Northern Cameroon. International African Library 17. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press for the International African Institute,.Google Scholar
CODESRIA Bulletin 2000thematic issue on Civil Society and the Public SpaceGoogle Scholar
Comaroff, John and Comaroff, Jean. 1999. ‘Civil Society and the Political Imagination in Africa: critical perspectives.’, (eds),Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Coulon, Christian.. 1978. ‘Elections, factions et ideologies au Senegal’,in Centre d'étude d'Afrique noire Aux urnes VAfrique ! Elections et pouvoirs en Afrique noire, (ed),149-86 Paris: Pédone.Google Scholar
Coulon, Christian.. 1999. ‘The Grand Magal in Touba: a religious festival of the Mouride brotherhood of Senegal’, African Affairs 98 195–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cruise, O'Brien and Donal, B.. 1971. The Mourides of Senegal: the political and economic organization of an Islamic brotherhood. Oxford: Clarendon Press,.Google Scholar
Cruise, O'Brien and Donal, B.. 1975. Saints and Politicians: essays in the organisation of a Senegalese peasant society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,.Google Scholar
Darbon, Dominique. 1988. L'administration et le paysan en Casamance : essai d'anthropologie administrative. Paris: Pédone,.Google Scholar
De Jong, Ferdinand.. 1999a. ‘Trajectories of a mask performance: the case of the Senegalese Kumpo’, Cahiers d'études africaines 153 49–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Jong, Ferdinand.. 1999b.. ‘ in Fardon, R.van Binsbergen, Wvan Dijk, R. (eds), Modernity on a Shoestring: dimensions of globalization, consumption and development in Africa and beyond, pp. 315–40. Leiden and London: EIDOS in association with the African Studies Centre, Leiden, and the Centre of African Studies, London.Google Scholar
De Jong, Ferdinand.. 2000. ‘Secrecy and the state: the Kankurang masquerade in Senegal’, Mande Studies 2 153–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Jong, Ferdinand.. 2001. ‘Modern Secrets: the power of locality in Casamance, Senegal’. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation,AmsterdamUniversity of Amsterdam.Google Scholar
De Jong, Ferdinand.. 2000. ‘Secrecy and the state: the Kankurang masquerade in Senegal’, Mande Studies 2 153–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, Stephen.. 1999. ‘The Mask of Anarchy: the destruction of Liberia and the religious dimension of an African civil war.’, LondonHurst.Google Scholar
FattonRobert,Jr. Robert,Jr.. 1986. ‘Clientelism and patronage in Senegal’,African Studies Review 29 (4) 61-78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferme, Mariane. 1999. ‘Staging Politisi: the dialogics of publicity and secrecy in Sierra Leone’, in Comaroff, J. L. and Comaroff, J. et al. (eds), Civil Society and the Political Imagination in Africa: critical perspectives, pp. 160–91. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Geertz, Clifford.. (1963) 1973.. ‘The integrative revolution: primordial sentiments and civil politics in the new states’, inThe Interpretation of Cultures, pp. 255–310. London: Fontana.Google Scholar
Geschiere, Peter and Gugler, Josef.. 1998. ‘The urban-rural connection: changing issues of belonging and identification’,Africa 68 (3) 309-19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Godelier, Maurice.. 1973. ‘Le concept de tribu : crise d'un concept ou crise des fondements empiriques de l'anthropologie?’, inHorizon : trajets marxistes en anthropologie, pp. 93–131. Paris: Maspéro.Google Scholar
Hesseling, Gerti.. 1985. ‘Histoire politique du Senegal : institutions, droit, société.’, Paris: Karthala; LeidenAfrika-studiecentrum.Google Scholar
Hyden, Goran. 1996. ‘The challenges of analysing and building civil society’,Africa Insight 26 (2) 92-106.Google Scholar
Lambert, Michael C.. 1998. ‘Violence and the War of Words: ethnicity v. nationalism in the Casamance’,Africa 68 (4) 585-602.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Linares, Olga F.. 1992. ‘Power, Prayer and Production: the Jola of Casamance.’, CambridgeCambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Mafeje, Archie.. 1971. ‘The ideology of “tribalism”’,Journal of Modern African Studies') (2) 253-61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mamdani, Mahmood.. 1996. ‘Citizen and Subject: contemporary Africa and the legacy of late colonialism.’, Princeton NJPrinceton University Press.Google Scholar
Mark, Peter.. 1985. ‘A Cultural, Economic, and Religious History of the Basse Casamance since 1500.’, StuttgartSteiner.Google Scholar
Mark, Peter.. 1992. ‘The Wild Bull and the Sacred Forest: form, meaning, and change in Senegambian initiation masks.’, CambridgeCambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Mark, Peterde Jong,, FerdinandChupin, Clémence. 1998. ‘Ritual and masking traditions in Jola men's initiation’,African Arts 31 (1) 36-4794-5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marat, Jean-Claude. 1995. ‘Solution militaire en Casamance’,Politique africaine 58 163-9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marat, Jean-Claude. 1999. ‘Casamance : les assises du MFDC à Banjul’,Afrique contemporaine 191 73-9.Google Scholar
Mbembe, Achille.. 1992. ‘Provisional notes on the postcolony’,Africa 62 (1) 3-37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Osaghae, Eghosa E.. 1991. ‘A re-examination of the conception of ethnicity in Africa as an ideology of inter-elite competition’,African Study Monographs 12 (1) 43-61.Google Scholar
République du Senegal, . 1992. ‘Recensement general de la population et de I'habitat de 1988 : rapport regional (résultats definitifs) : Ziguinchor.’, DakarDirection de la prevision et de la statistique.Google Scholar
Rothchild, Donald and Olorunsola, Donald. 1983. ‘Managing competing state and ethnic claims’, in Rothchild, D.Olorunsola, V. A. (eds), State versus Ethnic Claims: African policy dilemmas, pp. 245–1-24Boulder CO: Westview Press.Google Scholar
Rothchild, VailLeroy, V. A.(ed.),1989 The Creation of Tribalism in Southern Africa. London: James Currey; Berkeley CA: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Van Binsbergen, Wim M.J.. 1994. ‘Ethnicity as cultural mediation and transformation in central western Zambia’,African Studies 53 (29) 92-125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van der Klei, Jos.. 1985. ‘Articulation of modes of production and the beginning of labour migration among the Diola of Senegal’, in van Binsbergen, W.Geschiere, P.(eds), Old Modes of Production and Capitalist Encroachment, pp. 71–1-93London: Kegan Paul.Google Scholar
Van der Klei, Jos.. 1989. ‘Trekarbeid en de Roep van het Heilige Bos: het gezag van de oudste en moderne veranderingen bij de Diola van zuid Senegal.’, NijmegenIken.Google Scholar
Villalón, Leonardo A.. 1995. ‘Islamic Society and State Power in Senegal: disciples and citizens in Fatick.’, CambridgeCambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Werbner, Richard. 1996. ‘Introduction: multiple identities, plural arenas’, in Werbner, R.Ranger, T.(eds), Postcolonial Identities in Africa, pp. 1–1-25London and Atlantic Highlands NJ: Zed Books.Google Scholar