Transcript Talibes faculty lunc..

Talibés and Children’s Rights
in Senegal
Donna L. Perry
Department of Sociology & Anthropology
March 3, 2006
Senegal
10,589,571 population
Same size as South Dakota
94% Muslim
Talibé: Muslim child
disciple (boy entrusted
to live with and work
for a marabout for
many years)
Marabout: Islamic
sage
Teaches talibés to
recite the Qur’an and
performs many other
religious duties (leading
prayers, healing,
officiating at
ceremonies, resolving
disputes, and preparing
protective amulets)
Daara: informal school run by a marabout
See pictures on the website of “Arms of Love
International, Talibé Program
http://armsoflove.org/where_senegal_talibe.htm
A. Parents who
send their
children to live
as talibés
B. Rural Critics:
Wolof farmers
who oppose the
talibé institution
C. Urban Critics:
Intellectuals
&
Islamic Fundamentalists
who oppose the talibé
institution
D. Marabouts and
their devotees
who lash back