1 - Mademba and the Foundations of the Bargains of Collaboration, 1852–1888

Summary

Chapter 2 provides the context of changing colonialism from the time of Mademba’s birth in 1852 through the beginning of aggressive colonial conquest in French West Africa. As a child, Mademba studied in Qur’anic schools and in the newly established school for sons of chiefs and interpreters before joining the nascent post and telegraph service in 1869. This period also witnessed the expansion of militant Islamic revival movements and political crises in African polities. After nearly a decade in charge of a small telegraph post in Senegal, Mademba’s career took off when he was posted to the Upper Senegal region from where colonial conquest into the interior was launched. As Mademba rose through the ranks of the telegraph system, the French military command recognized and rewarded Mademba as a loyal collaborator. In becoming a Freemason, Mademba demonstrated his commitments to the French ideals of the civilizing mission.