Religious Motivations for Local Economic Development in Senegal

Cochrane, Laura Lynn

doi:10.2979/africatoday.58.4.3

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…As Baay Falls, they talk about their labor as a form of prayer and a service to both God and their community. These faith‐based motivations for participation make development work not just work but part of a spiritual journey (Cochrane , ).…”

Section: Ndem's Maam Samba Campusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing global economic inequalities in local ways in Senegal's artisanal workshops

Cochrane

2015

Economic Anthropology

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Central Senegal was once a thriving agricultural area, but over the past century, it has struggled with repeated droughts, rising temperatures, and land mismanagement. In addition, global inequalities, including colonialism, unequal energy use, and international trade inequities, have escalated both climate change and economic insecurities worldwide. These inequalities in turn have affected local environments and economies. Throughout these long‐term crises, in central Senegal, communities have relied on religious networks. Leaders of local economic development projects also work through these networks to rebuild their communities. This article focuses on the extent to which residents of two towns have used these participatory networks to address environmental and economic challenges. Their varied experiences show the importance of using a region's social foundations in communities' work toward financial viability. This article argues that local development projects that use these existing strengths as organizing principles are able to adapt to persistent challenges more successfully than those that do not. Existing networks that strengthen communities also strengthen their efforts to become sustainable.

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Section: Ndem's Maam Samba Campusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing global economic inequalities in local ways in Senegal's artisanal workshops

Cochrane

2015

Economic Anthropology

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“…Following the example of Cheikh Ibra Fall, a disciple of Cheikh Amadu Bamba, Baay Falls focus on labor as a form of prayer. They combine this belief with the Islamic imperative of charity (zakat) to direct their labor toward helping others and alleviating poverty through work (Cochrane ; Interview, Fatou Diack, June 23, 2011; McLaughlin :201; Villalón :69). Fallou Tall, one of Ndem's residents, explained that the village struggles with economic poverty, not poverty of soul, as they live in a spiritual community.…”

Section: Faith‐based Motivations To Address Human Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land Degradation, Faith‐Based Organizations, and Sustainability in Senegal

Cochrane

2013

Culture Agric Food & Envi

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Over the past one hundred years, Senegal has experienced repeated droughts and shifting economic and agricultural policies that have contributed to long-term land degradation in a once-productive agricultural region. Faithbased organizations have become prominent in communitylevel projects that are working to rebuild Senegal's rural agriculture and work toward environmental sustainability. Through ethnographic interviews with religious leaders and project managers, this article highlights Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant organizations that are involved in environmental and economic development efforts across central Senegal. Local faith-based organizations are effective in this work because they are integral parts of communities, they share communities' faith-based motivations for development work, and they have long-term strategies for sustainability that involve individuals, communities, and their natural environment. [land degradation, environment, agriculture, sustainability, faith-based organizations, Senegal] Laura L. Cochrane is Associate Professor of Anthropology at Central Michigan University; her recent book is Weaving through Islam in Senegal. bs_bs_banner Culture, Agriculture, Food and Environment Vol. 35, Issue 2 pp. 112-124, ISSN 2153-9553, eISSN 2153-9561.

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Collective and Community Work in Senegal: Resisting Colonial and Neoliberal Models of Economic Development

Cochrane¹

2017

Oppression and Resistance

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Religious Motivations for Local Economic Development in Senegal

Abstract: Just as the Muridiyya established itself in an arid region through agriculture, Ndem uses the historically important trades of weaving and agriculture to revitalize its community. At the same time, its spiritual center is its motivation for economic viability.

Cited by 3 publications

References 41 publications

Addressing global economic inequalities in local ways in Senegal's artisanal workshops

Addressing global economic inequalities in local ways in Senegal's artisanal workshops

Land Degradation, Faith‐Based Organizations, and Sustainability in Senegal

Collective and Community Work in Senegal: Resisting Colonial and Neoliberal Models of Economic Development

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