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Music as Socially Reproductive Labor: Murid Creative Practice in Dakar’s Médina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2022

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Abstract

In Médina, a crowded, working-class neighborhood in Dakar, disciples’ associations (dahiras) from the Murid Islamic Brotherhood turn city streets into spaces of participatory musical performance on a nightly basis. While the Brotherhood is frequently cited for its industriousness, scholars have generally focused on the agricultural and commercial aspects of Murid labor, rather than the creative aspect. This article examines how the Brotherhood’s valuing of creative activities as labor mitigates against the stigma that many young men in Médina face when they are expected to be productive members of society while largely being excluded from the prevailing global economic order.

Résumé

Résumé

Dans la Médina, un quartier populaire de Dakar, des associations de disciples de la confrérie islamique Mouride (dahiras) convertissent chaque soir des rues urbaines en espaces musicales participatives. La confrérie est réputée pour l’ardeur au travail de ses disciples. Les chercheurs tendent à privilégier les aspects agricole et commerçant du travail Mouride, plutôt que son aspect créateur. Nous examinons comment la valorisation de la création artistique comme travail atténue les stigmates du chômage pour les jeunes de la Médina qui intériorisent des discours de la logique productiviste pendant qu’ils sont exclus de l’ordre économique global contemporain.

Resumo

Resumo

Em Médina, um bairro apinhado da classe trabalhadora em Dakar, as associações de discípulos (dahiras) da Irmandade Islâmica Mouride transformam à noite as ruas da cidade em espaços de atuação musical participativa. Embora a Irmandade seja frequentemente citada pela sua diligência, os estudiosos têm-se geralmente concentrado nos aspetos agrícolas e comerciais do trabalho mouride, em vez de se debruçarem sobre a dimensão criativa. Este artigo examina como a valorização das atividades criativas da Irmandade enquanto trabalho atenua o estigma que muitos jovens em Médina enfrentam quando se espera que sejam membros produtivos da sociedade, ao mesmo tempo que são em grande medida excluídos da ordem económica global dominante.

Keywords

SenegalmusiclaborIslampostcolonial citiesMuridiyya
Type
Article
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 65 , Issue 1 , March 2022 , pp. 189 - 210
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the African Studies Association

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