Durban Dahira: A Safety Net and Transnational Junction for Senegalese Mourides in South Africa

Abstract

This paper illuminates the centrality of brotherhoods within the Senegalese society which has been described as a 'world of brotherhoods'. The paper depicts that for the Senegalese these brotherhoods go beyond mere religious fraternities in that they have become vital political, economic and social organizations performing a plethora of functions. It offers an analytical insight on how Mouride transnational social networks are created and the benefits of belonging to this brotherhood both for the individual migrants and the host and home societies. The paper further propounds that the Muridiyya brotherhood to which all the participants in the study belonged provides training, guidance and solidarity structure well-adjusted to crisis and change situations. The paper equally reveals how the Durban dahira provides Senegalese Mouride migrants with an avenue to continue Mouride religious rituals, a place to gather and exchange ideas and help one another, collectively monitor Mouride migrants and is also a cultural space where talibes gain knowledge of and rekindle their Mouride religious thought. The paper highlights how the Durban dahira has created a safety net and a transnational junction called Durban-Touba where Senegalese migrants 'find home' and which is their major point of identification and of reference. In this transnational crossroad they find hope and inspiration and as such are better able to deal with the challenges posed by migration. Finally, the paper further illuminates how 'Trust' and 'giving' are the two essential weapons that the Mourides require in order to succeed in addition to prayer and submission to the marabout.

Keywords: Migrants, Dahira, Mourides, Talibes, Senegalese and Marabouts