Category Archives: Sufism

Notes from the field, January 2018 in Senegal

Posted on February 26, 2018 by ericrossacademic

I have just returned from a week of field work in Senegal. While I have often done field work there, this time was different. First, I was joined by two other researchers for a team excursion. My two companions de … Continue reading →

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Attending a festival of Hamadshi culture

Posted on August 5, 2016 by ericrossacademic

                On 38-29-30 July 2016 I was invited to attend the Festival of Hamadshi Heritage. It is held annually in the village of Sidi Ali, which harbors the tomb of Sîdî ‘Alî ben … Continue reading →

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Mapping the zâwiyas of Fez

Posted on December 13, 2015 by ericrossacademic

My disposition for mapping shrines often leads me to volunteer my services to fellow academics working on the topic who may not have the time or expertise to make their own maps. I am always delighted when one of these … Continue reading →

Posted in cities, map work, publication, shrines, Sufism | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Bradt Travel Guide to Senegal

Posted on December 6, 2015 by ericrossacademic

Every once in a while, someone will contact me to ask me to contribute to a non-academic project. As an academic ensconced in my ivory tower, isolated in a gated campus on a ridge at the edge of a mountain … Continue reading →

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Murids of Morocco gather to celebrate Cheikh Ahmadu Bamba

Posted on October 28, 2015 by ericrossacademic

On May 9th, 2015, Murids from across Morocco gathered to celebrate Cheikh Ahmadu Bamba Mbacké, and I was honored to participate. The national event, held in an indoor basketball stadium (the CMC) in Casablanca, was organized by Dahira Fathul Ghaffar, a … Continue reading →

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Teaching a seminar on contemporary Senegalese Sufism

Posted on March 13, 2015 by ericrossacademic

I am in Tsukuba, Japan, this week, teaching a seminar on contemporary Senegalese Sufism. A former student of mine, Matsubara Kosuke, is now a professor of urban planning at the University of Tsukuba. This Japanese university and Al Akhawayn University … Continue reading →

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Christmas in Cambérène

Posted on December 3, 2012 by ericrossacademic

At long last, in time for Christmas and well worth the wait, a piece of field research I conducted nearly six years ago and presented at a conference over five years ago has been published in an edited volume: “Christmas … Continue reading →

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Prayer in the City, a new edited volume on religious life in urban spaces around the Muslim world

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ericrossacademic

One of the pleasures of presenting papers at academic conferences is occasionally seeing the proceedings published several years late (see next post). It’s a bit like reliving the original encounter. Small conferences are the best, thirty or forty people presenting … Continue reading →

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A morning of field work in Khourou Mbacké

Posted on April 24, 2012 by ericrossacademic

Last winter break, while vacationing in Touba (see this post from January 2012), I was able to visit the Murid shrines of Khourou Mbacké for the first time. Khourou Mbacké is only about 25 km from Touba, near Ndoulo off … Continue reading →

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New page on Senegal’s Tijâniya

Posted on March 12, 2012 by ericrossacademic

Long overdue, I can now launch the page on Senegal’s Tijânî shrines and neighborhoods (look for the Tijânî page under the “Touba and more” tab). While my work has centered on the Murid holy city of Touba, no study of any … Continue reading →

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