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Sufism and Politics among Senegalese Immigrants in Columbus, Ohio: Ndigel and the Voting Preferences of a Transnational Community

Camara, Samba
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1366973242

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, African Studies (International Studies).
The electoral ndigel is a voting command issued by some Senegalese Sufi leaders to their followers in support of one political party or another. Since 1946, this phenomenon has exemplified the religious leaders’ influence on the electoral outcomes. In the last decades, however, the electoral ndigel seems to have declined in influence, especially among the Senegalese voters in the diaspora who can partake in Senegalese elections through `distance-voting programs.’ By analyzing the electoral preferences of Senegalese citizens in Columbus, Ohio, this study argues that the decline of the electoral ndigel in this particular locality is based on the diasporic voters’ acquisition of a greater political awareness, achievement of financial independence and exposure to a politically more secular American culture. The study is structured in five chapters. Chapter 1 provides a historical background on the evolution of the religion-politics nexus in Senegal. It discusses different phases of Islamic militancy and explains how the state-tarixa relationship has evolved overtime. Chapter 2 examines how deterritorialization of Senegalese Sufi taalibes in general has contributed to the globalization of Senegalese tarixas in different ways. Chapter 3 discusses the methodology of research and data collection. Chapter 4 focuses on the case study, Columbus (Ohio), and discusses the translation of that globalization into `long-distance’ political participation. It also investigates how Senegalese immigrants integrate Columbus, Ohio in different modes. More importantly, the chapter also discusses different transnational factors which cause the Senegalese expatriate voters to opt for a more ndigel-free voting. Finally, chapter 5 presents a set of remarks and recommendations about the participation of Columbus Senegalese in the distance-voting programs.
Brandon Kendhammer, Ph. D (Committee Chair)
Loren Lybarger, Ph. D (Committee Member)
Steve Howard, Ph. D (Committee Member)
159 p.
African History; African Studies; Black Studies; Cultural Anthropology; Divinity; Ethnic Studies; Islamic Studies; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Philosophy; Political Science; Regional Studies; Religion; Religious Congregations; Spirituality; Sub Saharan Africa Studies; Theology
Political Islam in Senegal; Senegalese immigrants in Columbus, Ohio; Religion and Politics; Migration and citizenship; Sufism and Politics; transnational Sufism; Voting command; Democracy in Senegal; deterritorialization; hybridized citizenship; Ndigel

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Camara, S. (2013). Sufism and Politics among Senegalese Immigrants in Columbus, Ohio: Ndigel and the Voting Preferences of a Transnational Community [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1366973242

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Camara, Samba. Sufism and Politics among Senegalese Immigrants in Columbus, Ohio: Ndigel and the Voting Preferences of a Transnational Community. 2013. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1366973242.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Camara, Samba. "Sufism and Politics among Senegalese Immigrants in Columbus, Ohio: Ndigel and the Voting Preferences of a Transnational Community." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1366973242

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1366973242
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.