Divine Mandates and Political Realities: Exploring Power, Religion, and Transition in The Gambia

This article analyses the role of religious symbolism and religiosity during The Gambia’s autocracy (1994–2017) and its democratic transition (2017–2023). Former autocratic ruler, Yahya Jammeh, exploited religious symbolism to legitimise his authority, leading to crackdowns, extrajudicial punishment...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Afrikaspectrum Vol. 59; no. 1; pp. 69 - 88
Main Authors:	Agyemang, Danielle, Somiah, Vilashini, Ying Hooi, Khoo
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	London, England SAGE Publications 01-04-2024 Sage Publications Ltd SAGE Publishing
Subjects:	Authoritarianism Autocracy Bible Christianity Civil society Consciousness Cultural values Culture Democracy Democratization Human rights Islam Minority & ethnic groups Muslims Narratives Oppression Political change Political history Political leadership Political power Power Power structure Punishment Quran Religion Religion & politics Religiosity Religious beliefs Religious symbols Rural communities Speeches Spirituality Symbolism Symbols Urban areas Gambia Africa The Gambia Macht autocracy Gambia Autokratie Jammeh power religion
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Summary:	This article analyses the role of religious symbolism and religiosity during The Gambia’s autocracy (1994–2017) and its democratic transition (2017–2023). Former autocratic ruler, Yahya Jammeh, exploited religious symbolism to legitimise his authority, leading to crackdowns, extrajudicial punishment, and political repression. Drawing on community engagements and interviews with 61 civil-society members, political actors, community stakeholders, and girls in rural and urban areas across The Gambia’s West Coast Region, the findings highlight the influence of cultural and value systems, particularly the intersection of religion and politics, in shaping the country’s autocracy. Exploring some of the nuances of religious ideology and religious symbols concerning the state, The Gambia’s political history allows for deeper examinations of power dynamics within the broader cultural and societal context. By adopting a multidimensional perspective of power that incorporates religion, cultural values, and ethnic dimensions, this article offers new perspectives for analysing power structures and transformations in diverse socio-political settings.
ISSN:	0002-0397 1868-6869
DOI:	10.1177/00020397241230565