Masquerades of Modernity: Power and Secrecy in Casamance, Senegal

How do those on the margins of modernity face the challenges of globalization? In this provocative and compelling book, Ferdinand de Jong shows that secrecy provides a powerful means of asserting locality against the forces of globalism. Focusing on initiation rituals and masked performances, de Jong shows how the people of the Casamance region of Senegal have used these practices to incorporate Islam, colonialism, capitalism, and contemporary politics into their world. This book will appeal to readers with interests in the making of modernity and the importance of performing secrecy in global contexts.