Transnational Islam: circulation of religious ideas, actors and practices between Niger and Nigeria

One of our latest publications, edited by Dr. Elodie Apard is available for sale in hard copy in IFRA's office and will be soon available in open access on the website of the co-publisher, the African Studies Centre of Leiden.

At the crossroads of major trade routes and characterised by intense human circulations, the area that encompasses northern Nigeria and southern Niger is a privileged space to study transnational religious dynamics. Islam is, indeed, an essential feature of this region assuming today new forms in terms of discourses, practices, and modes of dissemination. In order to capture their changing complexity and diversity, regional Islamic dynamics need to be observed from both sides of the Niger-Nigeria border, where religious patterns echo each other but also obey different socio-political injunctions. While studying the processes of religious renewal and mutation, it is necessary to pay attention to the varied forms these processes take, to their direct and indirect effects and to the channels of transmission used.

An interdisciplinary team of seven researchers from Niger, Nigeria, France and the United Kingdom was set up to conduct this transnational study; all authors carried out ethnographic fieldwork in both countries while constantly exchanging, comparing and discussing their respective findings with each other. Thus, this book provides first-hand material collected in the field, that contributes to enrich the reflection on contemporary transformation dynamics in the Islamic landscapes of Niger and Nigeria, but also reflects the relevance of a transnational and comparative approach of these phenomena. Finally, it showcases the collaborative work of African and European scholars from Francophone and Anglophone countries - a type of scientific partnership unprecedented in this field.

To learn more about this project, you can also visit the TransIslam project page on our website.

Contents:

Introduction: Studying Islamic Dynamic from a Niger-Nigeria transnational perspective

Part I - Islam within the State, Islam within the space

1 - Reformist Islam, the State, and Muslims of Nigeria and the Republic: Muhammadu Mustapha Gwadabe

2 - Islamic legal radicalism : the cases of Katina and Maradi: Abdourahmane Idrissa

Part II - Questionning the salafi model and its cross-border effects

3- Cross-border preaching between Northern Nigeria and Niger: practices, actors, and implications of Wa'azi : Abdoulaye Sounaye

4- "Rapping islam" : the Nigérien music scene and the challenges of religious reformism: Elodie Apard

5- Pastoralism and islamic practices in Fulbe communities of northern Nigeria and Niger: Adam Higazi

Part III - Boko Haram, the transnationalisation of a local phenomenon

6- The spread of jihadist insurrections in Niger and Nigeria : an analysis based on the case of Boko Haram: Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos

7- Boko Haram along the Nigeria-Niger Borderlands : influences, scope, and management: Kyari Mohammed