جدلية نجاح المقاومة الثقافية بالسنغال ضد سياسات التغريب
دراسة تاريخية موضوعية
One of the first decisions taken by the colonial administration, after its control of the country, was to combat the Arabic language and Islamic culture, since it sought, with all its might, to stop the activity of Quranic schools, by marginalizing them and neglecting the role of those in charge of them. The biggest goals it aspired to achieve – through training – was what led to the deformation of the national identity and the creation of an inferiority complex within the mind of citizens, as a prelude to serving its own interests. It tried, as much as it could, to impose western education, which prompted the religious leaders in the country to think about developing strategies to confront their plans, but this was not possible, because of the unequal balance of power between them and the colonial administration. Among the most prominent negative effects left by colonial policies in our country, was the fact of enabling a class of assimilated and intellectually defeated intellectuals to rule the country after its withdrawal, which plunged the country into stifling moral and cultural crises. Among the manifestations of cultural resistance in Senegal was the establishment of Quranic schools, educational centers and Sufi retreats, in addition to the continuation of a large segment of the Senegalese people in boycotting French schools. Today, a century and a half after declaring war on the Arabic language and the Islamic religion, Islam has, nevertheless, spread to all regions in Senegal, and Sufism has won its supremacy in all social circles, thanks to God and the determination of the leaders of the cultural resistance.
Keywords: Colonial Administration, Islamic Culture, Arabic Language, Westernization, Resistance, Identity.
Dr. Ahmedou Ndack LO, Associate lecturer, Department for Management and Administration of Education and Training, Faculty of Scientific and Technological Education and Training, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar – SENEGAL