Faith in Empire : Religion, Politics, and Colonial Rule in French Senegal, 1880–1940

This book is an innovative exploration of French colonial rule in Senegal between 1880 and 1940, through the prism of religion and religious policy. Faith In Empire Is An Innovative Exploration Of French Colonial Rule In West Africa, Conducted Through The Prism Of Religion And Religious Policy. Elizabeth Foster Examines The Relationships Among French Catholic Missionaries, Colonial Administrators, And Muslim, Animist, And Christian Africans In Colonial Senegal Between 1880 And 1940. In Doing So She Illuminates The Nature Of The Relationship Between The French Third Republic And Its Colonies, Reveals Competing French Visions Of How To Approach Africans, And Demonstrates How Disparate Groups Of French And African Actors, Many Of Whom Were Unconnected With The Colonial State, Shaped French Colonial Rule. Among Other Topics, The Book Provides Historical Perspective On Current French Controversies Over The Place Of Islam In The Fifth Republic By Exploring How Third Republic Officials Wrestled With Whether To Apply The Legal Separation Of Church And State To West African Muslims. -- Book Cover. To Mock A Nun : Religion And Politics In Senegal's Communes, 1882-1890 -- Rivalry In Translation : Catholicism, Islam, And French Rule Of The North-west Sereer, 1890-1900 -- The Storm Approaches : Laïcité And West Africa, 1901-1910 -- Proving Patriotism : Catholic Missionaries And The First World War In Senegal -- An Ambiguous Monument : Dakar's Colonial Cathedral Of The Souvenir Africain -- Civilization, Custom, And Controversy : Catholic Conversion And French Rule In Senegal -- Conclusion : The Limits Of Civilizing, 1936-1940. Elizabeth A. Foster. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 'Faith in Empire' is an innovative exploration of French colonial rule in West Africa, conducted through the prism of religion and religious policy. It examines the relationships among French Catholic missionaries, colonial administrators, and Muslim, animist, and Christian Africans in colonial Senegal between 1880 and 1940. In doing so, it illuminates the nature of the relationship between the French Third Republic and its colonies, reveals competing French visions of how to approach Africans, and demonstrates how disparate groups of French and African actors, many of whom were unconnected with the colonial state, shaped French colonial rule