Afrika Kolloquium mit Abdoulaye Sounaye

19.03.2019 17:00

Vortrag "An Ethnography of Salafism in Niamey: Uniform, Order and Distinction" von Dr. Sounaye, Research Fellow am Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO), Berlin

This talk discusses the socioreligious practices of Salafi youth, usually referred to as Sunnance in Niamey, Niger. An outgrow of the Izala reform movement, the Sunnance have become one of the most dynamic religious group in Niamey. More specifically, the talk will focus on the Agaji, an order among the Sunnance. Claiming to serve the Sunna, the Agaji have developed sartorial practices and a discourse of distinction that shapes their involvement in the life of their movement. As the ethnographic material will show, being Sunnance and Agaji is not only about espousing theological and doctrinal principles; it is also grounded in sartorial and aesthetic practices that revolve around uniforms. What is at stake in their celebration of uniform ? How does uniform contribute to the Agaji order and serve both an individual and collective purpose? These are some of the questions the talk will engage. The talk is an elaboration on an on-going ethnography of youth and religiosity in West Africa. It serves as a contribution to a critical examination of the uncharted territories of Salafism in West Africa.

Organiser:
Institut für Afrikawissenschaften, Chair: Kirsten Rüther
Location:
Seminarraum 3