The crown and the turban : Muslims and West African pluralism / Lamin Sanneh.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 261-279) and index.

1. Muslims in Non-Muslim Societies of Africa -- 2. Islam and the African Religious Synthesis: Society and the Religious Outlook -- 3. Slavery, Clerics, and Muslim Society -- 4. Tcherno Aliou, the Wali of Goumba: Islam, Colonialism, and the Rural Factor in Futa Jallon, 1867-1912 -- 5. Saints, Virtue, and Society in Muslim Africa: The History of a Theme -- 6. A Childhood Muslim Education: Barakah, Identity, and the Roots of Change -- 7. The Arabic Language in African Education -- 8. Action and Reaction Among Freetown Muslims: Factionalism, Pluralism, and Muslim Agency -- 9. Religion and Politics with Reference to Africa: A Comparative Religious Critique -- 10. "The Crown and the Turban": Public Policy Issues in Christian-Muslim Relations, with Special Reference to Africa.

This fascinating study explores the "clash of civilizations" between the secular government and Muslim traditions in West Africa, appraising the challenge of separating the administration of the state from the deeply held beliefs of the Islamic peoples of the region.

Lamin Sanneh, awarded Senegal's highest national honor for his scholarly work, places Islam within the context of Africa's receptive and pluralist environment, explores the religious and historical background of present-day conflicts, and shows that achieving solutions will depend equally upon Christian and Muslim theological resources.