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Saint Mediation in the Era of Transnationalism: The Da'Ira of the Jakhanke Marabouts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

Ed van Hoven
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Abstract

The focus of this article is the intersection of the motivations for international migration and innovative new forms of religious organisation. An example is provided by the recent introduction of a prayer ritual called da’ira in the Muslim community of the Jakhanke Jabi in eastern Senegal. For centuries, supererogatory prayers mingled with local practices have been at the heart of the religious traditions of the Jakhanke Jabi marabouts. Yet their religious practice underwent considerable change when the young disciples began to migrate to Europe and the United States. Prayers raised during the ritual address the invisible saints capable of serving the needs of transnational migrants. At the same time the economic base of community agriculture shifted from labour provided by the students to donations increasingly coming from overseas groups of followers. Since then a great number of people—including politicians—seeking success in business, career, health or marriage have solicited the spiritual help and protection of Jakhanke Jabi marabouts.

Résumé

La thème central de cet article est l'intersection des motivations de migration internationale et de nouvelles formes originales d’organisation religieuse. L’introduction récente d’un rituel de prière appelé da'ira au sein de la communauté musulmane des Jakhanke Jabi, dans l'Est du Sénégal, en fournit un exemple. Pendant des siècles, des prières surérogatoires mêlées de pratiques locales étaient au cœur des traditions religieuses des marabouts Jakhanke Jabi. Leur pratique religieuse a pourtant subi un changement profond lorsque les jeunes disciples ont commencé à migrer vers l'Europe et les Etats-Unis. Les prières prononcées au cours du rituel s’adressent aux saints invisibles capables de satisfaire les besoins des migrants transnationaux. Dans le même temps, la base économique de l'agriculture communautaire est passée d’une main-d’œuvre fournie par les étudiants aux dons provenant, de plus en plus, de groupes d’adeptes résidant à l'étranger. Depuis lors, un nombre considérable de personnes, y compris des politiciens, en quête de réussite commerciale, professionnelle, sanitaire ou matrimoniale sollicitent l'aide spirituelle et la protection des marabouts Jakhanke Jabi.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 73 , Issue 2 , May 2003 , pp. 290 - 308
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2003

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