The Role of Islam, Ajami writings and educational reform in Sulemaana Kantè's N'ko

Abstract

The written words of African Muslims have recently received renewed attention. This stems from a push to go beyond colonial archives as well as concerns with terrorism and Islamic radicalization. While Ajami—that is, writing African languages in Arabic-script—has been a part of this trend, Manding-language publications in the N’ko script have been overlooked. And yet, this literary industry is distinctly Islamic. Putting the writings of Sulemaana Kantè into conversation with historical authors and his contemporaries, Donaldson demonstrates that N’ko represents an iteration of Afro-Muslim vernacular thought. He thereby illuminates Kantè and a body of N’ko and Ajami publications.