Includes bibliographical references. / "Towards a history of a Senegalese brotherhood in Cape Town" studies the presence of the Muridiyya, or Mouride, order (tariqa) of Senegal in South Africa, the relationships of its members to other Senegalese migrants and to the population of Cape Town. It therefore traces the transformation of the tariqa under new historical and geopolitical circumstances. Methodologically, within the limits of Historical Sciences, this research hasbeen undertaken in the framework of oral history methodology. Following the Introduction and a chapter on the methodological framework, this essay goes on to give a brief historical summary of Islam in Senegal followed by an overview of Sufism and Sufi orders in Senegal, concentrating on the life of the founder of the Muridiyya, Cheikh Amadu Bamba, his teachings, his trials under French colonialism, and the growth in influence of the Muridiyya order as a spiritual and socio-economic group in Senegal. Thereafter it looks at the worldwide spread of the Mouride Diaspora and its characteristics. Then the study concentrates its focus on the Mouride Diaspora to the Western Cape in the context of the general African migration to South Africa and of the historical Muslim presence in the area. Based-on individual interviews of members both of the Muridiyya and the Tijaniyya turuq, and on visits to the dahiras, zawiyas and workplaces of Mourides and Tijanis, it analyses in detail the experience of the group, describing its key features and in particular the twofold spiritual-economic core of the group. It traces the evolution of the group through a period of 14 years and examines the relationship that it has with South African society and with the Muslims of Cape Town in particular. The final section deals with the Mourides' own perception of their contribution to South Africa. In conclusion, this research points out that, thanks to its deeply spiritual and its economic principles, which emphasizes hard work, strong co-operative organization, and the consequent mutual trust among its members, the Muridiyya tariqa has grown and even transformed itself in Cape Town. It is dealing with infighting borne of its new context, and adapting to changing historical circumstances. Moreover, it can be seen as an alternative social way to respond to the difficult challenges that human beings face in our society.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uct/oai:localhost:11427/9263 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Zubillaga, Maria Teresa |
| Publisher | University of Cape Town, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Historical Studies |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Master Thesis, Masters, MA |
| Format | application/pdf |
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