Presentation Abstract
Since the 1990s, Muslim movements are visible in public spaces, notably in the streets of Dakar. Among Sufi groups,organizing prayers or zhikr in public spaces has been part of their daily life for at least the last two centuries. But inrecent decades, a political sense of social reform through Islamic values has been added to these practices. On the one hand, this “return of Islam” or “return to Islam” is analyzed as the consequence of the politicalliberalization in the 1990s, and especially in the 2000s. The new generation invented other ways of doing politics inthe street or on the screen, creating a new political-religious imagery. On the other hand, this religious emergence also hits private spheres. Young Muslims have developed diffe ent waysof life and spiritual practices; bringing diversity within the society. Not only the religious or spiritual practices (suchas the zhikr or the wird), but also the dress codes such as the arrangement of the headscarf for women, or the choiceof certain colors, have led to the emergence of a new “Muslim Way of Life” in today Senegal.
Highlighting the digital spheres will help us understand the new articulation between private and public. Indeed,political issues, and even marital life are regular topics during Islamic conferences broadcaste through socialnetworks (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram). Based on observations and interviews, but also on the analysis ofcyberspaces, this paper questions the transformation of public and private spaces under religious influences amongyoung Senegalese.
