Chefs et Marabouts: David Robinson’s Work Translated for Francophone Audiences
Professor David Robinson’s book, Chiefs and Clerics: Abdul Bokar Kan and Futa Toro, 1853-1891 in the Senegal Valley, has been translated into French under the title Chefs et Marabouts – Abdoul Bocar Kan et le Fouta Toro. 1853 – 1891. The French edition was published by Éditions Jimsaan, a Senegalese publishing house.
The book explores the history of Futa Toro in the 19th century, focusing on Abdoul Bokar Kan, a visionary leader who resisted French colonial ambitions to maintain his people’s autonomy. It examines the dynamics between local chiefs and Islamic clerics during a period marked by the expansion of French colonial influence in West Africa.
The French edition will be launched on January 4, 2025, at Librairie L’Harmattan in Dakar, Senegal. The event features a roundtable discussion with historian Ibrahim Thioub, author David Robinson (participating via videoconference), family representative Abdoul Aly Bocar Kane, and editor Felwine Sarr: https://www.editionsjimsaan.com
This translation makes Professor Robinson’s significant work more accessible to French-speaking audiences, offering valuable insights into the historical interactions between African leaders and colonial powers in the Senegal Valley.
David Robinson is a distinguished historian whose work has profoundly shaped the study of African history, particularly in the areas of Islamic societies, colonial encounters, and resistance movements in West Africa. His research illuminates the complex dynamics between African leaders and European colonial powers, especially in Senegal and Mauritania, showcasing how local actors negotiated, resisted, and adapted to colonial rule. Robinson combines oral histories, colonial archives, and Islamic manuscripts, pioneering interdisciplinary approaches that bridge African and Islamic studies. His works, such as Muslim Societies in African History, are widely used in academic curricula, fostering a deeper understanding of Africa’s diverse histories and cultures. David Robinson’s research has been pivotal in challenging Eurocentric narratives, emphasizing African agency, and highlighting the rich interplay between local and global historical forces.
