# Youth and Women's Islamic Activism in Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso

- **Period:** 2013 – 2018
- **Funder:** Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
- **Web page:** https://www.frederickmadore.com/research/youth-womens-islamic-activism-cote-divoire-burkina-faso

This research project is situated in the context of the increasing visibility of Islam in the Ivorian and Burkinabe public sphere, particularly since the 1990s, and the growing engagement of youth and women within this religious dynamic. The project explores the emerging new forms of Islamic activism, with a particular focus on the role of young people and women, their communication strategies and their contribution to reshaping the religious and social landscape.

An important focus of this research is the impact of the increasing mediatisation of Islam, both through traditional media (radio, periodicals) and new information and communication technologies (internet, social media). It analyses how these tools are used by religious actors, especially youth and women, to disseminate their discourse, assert their presence in the public sphere and negotiate social and religious norms. The project highlights the emergence of new mediatised religious figures, including women, who are gaining significant authority and visibility.

The project also includes an in-depth study of the presence of Ivorian and Burkinabe Islam in the digital age. This analysis reveals how the internet and social media are being used by Islamic associations, Muslim intellectuals and individual religious figures to disseminate the religious message, construct transnational community identities and belonging, and promote new forms of online religiosity. The research highlights the challenges and limitations of this digital transition for some organisations, as well as the crucial role of individual initiatives, often led by young people, in harnessing the potential of the web.

Another important strand of the project is concerned with intergenerational dynamics within Muslim communities. It analyses how the rise of a young Arabophone and Francophone elite, more familiar with new technologies, is challenging traditional forms of religious authority and seeking to position itself as the spokesperson for a ‘civil Islam’. This research highlights the tensions and convergences between generations in the construction of contemporary Islam in Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.

Specific themes explored in this project include the role of “francophone Muslim intellectuals” in the Burkinabe public sphere after the departure of President Blaise Compaoré (2014), the vitality and dynamism of Salafism in Côte d’Ivoire, and the organisation of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Côte d’Ivoire and the stakes involved. Special attention is also given to the emergence of influential female figures, such as Aminata Kane Koné [(Madore, 2020)](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/muslim-feminist-media-cote-divoire-2020.md), and their role as religious entrepreneurs and media personalities.

By combining qualitative research methods - notably interviews with Muslim actors, media content analysis (print media, websites, social media) and a socio-historical approach - this project contributes to a better understanding of the profound transformations taking place within Islam in West Africa, with a particular focus on the engagement and strategies of youth and women. It highlights the complexity of religious dynamics, the diversity of actors and discourses, and the socio-political stakes involved in the assertion of Islam in the Ivorian and Burkinabe contexts.

## Grants

- **2013-2015** Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program Doctoral Scholarships, SSHRC (CA$105,000, Awarded)
- **2013-2015** Doctoral Research Scholarship, Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Société et la Culture (FRQSC) (CA$80,000, Turned Down)
- **2011-2012** Master's Research Scholarship, FRQSC (CA$15,000, Awarded)
- **2010-2011** Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program Master's Scholarships, SSHRC (CA$17,500, Awarded)

## Publications

- [Religion on the Internet and New Information and Communication Technologies in Burkina Faso](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/religion-internet-burkina-faso-2024.md) · Book chapter
  Frédérick Madore and Louis Audet Gosselin. (2024). “Religion on the Internet and New Information and Communication Technologies in Burkina Faso”. In Religious Encounters and Social Dynamics in Burkina Faso, ed. Alice Degorce, Ludovic O. Kibora and Katrin Langewiesche, 263-288. Dakar: Amalion.
- [Islam on University Campuses in Côte d'Ivoire since the 1970s: Muslim Intellectuals and Francophone Salafism](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/islam-university-campuses-cote-divoire-2023.md) · Book chapter
  Frédérick Madore and Issouf Binaté. (2023). “Islam on University Campuses in Côte d’Ivoire since the 1970s: Muslim Intellectuals and Francophone Salafism”. In Religiosity on University Campuses in Africa: Trends and Experiences, ed. Abdoulaye Sounaye and Frédérick Madore, 273-307. Berlin: LIT Verlag.
- [Francophone Muslim intellectuals, Islamic associational life and religious authority in Burkina Faso](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/francophone-muslim-intellectuals-burkina-faso-2020.md) · Journal article
  Frédérick Madore. (2020). “Francophone Muslim intellectuals, Islamic associational life and religious authority in Burkina Faso”. Africa 90 (3): 625-646.
- [Muslim Feminist, Media Sensation, and Religious Entrepreneur: Aminata Kane Koné as a Figure of Success in Côte d'Ivoire](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/muslim-feminist-media-cote-divoire-2020.md) · Journal article
  Frédérick Madore. (2020). “Muslim Feminist, Media Sensation, and Religious Entrepreneur: Aminata Kane Koné as a Figure of Success in Côte d’Ivoire”. Africa Today 67 (2-3): 17-38.
- [Imams, Islamic Preachers, and Public Space in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) since the 1990s: Toward New Intergenerational Relationships and a Muslim Public Sphere](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/imams-islamic-preachers-ouagadougou-2020.md) · Book chapter
  Frédérick Madore. (2020). “Imams, Islamic Preachers, and Public Space in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) since the 1990s: Toward New Intergenerational Relationships and a Muslim Public Sphere”. In Perspectives on the Religious Landscape in Africa, ed. Lady Jane Acquah and Toyin Falola, 183-213. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press.
- [Le religieux sur Internet et dans les NTIC au Burkina Faso](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/religieux-internet-ntic-burkina-faso-2019.md) · Book chapter
  Frédérick Madore and Louis Audet Gosselin. (2019). “Le religieux sur Internet et dans les NTIC au Burkina Faso”. In Rencontres religieuses et dynamiques sociales au Burkina Faso, ed. Alice Degorce, Ludovic O. Kibora and Katrin Langewiesche, 269-296. Dakar: Amalion.
- [L'organisation du hadj en Côte d'Ivoire: entre facteur de cohésion et source de rivalités au sein de la communauté musulmane (1993-2010)](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/hadj-cote-divoire-2018.md) · Journal article
  Frédérick Madore and Yssoufou Traoré. (2018). “L’organisation du hadj en Côte d’Ivoire: entre facteur de cohésion et source de rivalités au sein de la communauté musulmane (1993-2010)”. Cahiers d’études africaines (229): 179-208.
- [Rivalités et collaborations entre ainés et cadets sociaux dans les milieux associatifs islamiques en Côte d'Ivoire et au Burkina Faso (1970-2017)](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/rivalites-collaborations-islamiques-cote-ivoire-burkina-faso-2018.md) · PhD dissertation
  Frédérick Madore. (2018). “Rivalités et collaborations entre ainés et cadets sociaux dans les milieux associatifs islamiques en Côte d’Ivoire et au Burkina Faso (1970-2017)”. PhD Dissertation, Université Laval.
- [Le nouveau dynamisme du salafisme en Côte d'Ivoire: vers une radicalisation de l'islam ivoirien?](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/salafism-cote-ivoire-mande-2017.md) · Conference proceedings
  Frédérick Madore. (2017). “Le nouveau dynamisme du salafisme en Côte d’Ivoire: vers une radicalisation de l’islam ivoirien?” In Les Actes du Dixième Congrès International de l’Association des Études Mandé. Aux carrefours des identités: cohabitation, conflit, et réconciliation en Afrique de l’Ouest et dans les diasporas.
- [Muslim Women in Burkina Faso since the 1970s: Toward Recognition as Figures of Religious Authority?](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/muslim-women-burkina-faso-2016.md) · Journal article
  Frédérick Madore and Muriel Gomez-Perez. (2016). “Muslim Women in Burkina Faso since the 1970s: Toward Recognition as Figures of Religious Authority?” Islamic Africa 7 (2): 185-209.
- [The New Vitality of Salafism in Côte d'Ivoire: Toward a Radicalization of Ivoirian Islam?](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/salafism-cote-divoire-2016.md) · Journal article
  Frédérick Madore. (2016). “The New Vitality of Salafism in Côte d’Ivoire: Toward a Radicalization of Ivoirian Islam?” Journal of Religion in Africa 46 (4): 417-452.
- [Islam, médias, mise en place du Sénat et article 37 de la Constitution: changement de paradigme au Burkina Faso (1991–2014)?](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/islam-medias-senat-burkina-faso-2016.md) · Journal article
  Frédérick Madore. (2016). “Islam, médias, mise en place du Sénat et article 37 de la Constitution: changement de paradigme au Burkina Faso (1991–2014)?” Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue canadienne des études africaines 50 (1): 7-27.
- [La construction d'une sphère publique musulmane en Afrique de l'Ouest](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/sphere-publique-musulmane.md) · Book
  Frédérick Madore. (2016). La construction d’une sphère publique musulmane en Afrique de l’Ouest. Québec/Paris: Presses de l’Université Laval/Hermann.
- [L'islam ivoirien et burkinabé à l'ère du numérique 2.0](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/islam-ivoirien-burkinabe-numerique-2016.md) · Journal article
  Frédérick Madore. (2016). “L’islam ivoirien et burkinabé à l’ère du numérique 2.0”. Journal des anthropologues (146-147): 151-178.
- [Leaders of National and Transnational Muslim NGOs in Burkina Faso: Diverse Forms and Experiences of Islamic Civic Engagement](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/leaders-muslim-ngos-burkina-faso-2016.md) · Book chapter
  Kathéry Couillard, Frédérick Madore and Muriel Gomez-Perez. (2016). “Leaders of National and Transnational Muslim NGOs in Burkina Faso: Diverse Forms and Experiences of Islamic Civic Engagement”. In Faith and Charity: Religion and Humanitarian Assistance in West Africa, ed. Marie Nathalie LeBlanc and Louis Audet Gosselin, 105-123. London: Pluto Press.
- [Communauté Musulmane du Burkina Faso](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/communaute-musulmane-burkina-faso-2014.md) · Encyclopedia entry
  Frédérick Madore and Muriel Gomez-Perez. (2014). “Communauté Musulmane du Burkina Faso”. In The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Three, ed. Kate Fleet, Gudrun Krämer, Denis Matringe, John Nawas and Everett Rowson, 66-67. Leiden: Brill.
- [Prêcheurs(ses) musulman(e)s et stratégies de communication au Burkina Faso depuis 1990 : des processus différentiés de conversion interne](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/precheurs-musulmans-burkina-faso-2013.md) · Journal article
  Muriel Gomez-Perez and Frédérick Madore. (2013). “Prêcheurs(ses) musulman(e)s et stratégies de communication au Burkina Faso depuis 1990 : des processus différentiés de conversion interne”. Théologiques 21 (2): 121-157.
- [Islam, politique et sphère publique à Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) : différentes cohortes d'imams et de prêcheurs entre visibilité nouvelle et reconfiguration des rapports intergénérationnels (1960-2012)](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/madore-islam-politique-ouagadougou-2013.md) · Master's thesis
  Frédérick Madore. (2013). “Islam, politique et sphère publique à Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) : différentes cohortes d’imams et de prêcheurs entre visibilité nouvelle et reconfiguration des rapports intergénérationnels (1960-2012)”. Master’s Thesis, Université Laval.
- [Imams, prêcheurs et visibilité nouvelle de l'islam à Ouagadougou depuis 1991 : entre recompositions intergénérationnelles et sphère publique musulmane](https://www.frederickmadore.com/publications/imams-precheurs-ouagadougou-2013.md) · Conference proceedings
  Frédérick Madore. (2013). “Imams, prêcheurs et visibilité nouvelle de l’islam à Ouagadougou depuis 1991 : entre recompositions intergénérationnelles et sphère publique musulmane”. In Actes du 12e colloque international étudiant du Département d’histoire de l’Université Laval, ed. Émilie Guilbeault-Cayer, Agueda Iturbe-Kennedy, Dorothée Kaupp and Isabel Trépanier, 233-252. Quebec City: Artefact.

## Talks

- [Émancipation féminine et militantisme islamique en Afrique de l'Ouest depuis 1980: quelques enseignements du Burkina Faso, de la Côte d'Ivoire, du Togo et du Bénin](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/emancipation-feminine-militantisme-islamique.md) · Workshop presentation
  Atelier international Femmes africaines dans une société d’hommes: espaces contraints, habilité sociale et formes d’émancipation, Université de Kabala, Mali, 22 March 2022
- [Political mobilizations in Burkina Faso](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/political-mobilizations-burkina-faso.md) · Workshop presentation
  Workshop Political mobilizations in Burkina Faso, University of Ottawa, Canada, 27 November 2020
- ['Muslim Intellectuals' and 'Francophone Salafis' in West Africa: New Religious Elites?](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/muslim-intellectuals-francophone-salafis.md) · Lecture
  Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, Indiana University Bloomington, United States, 1 October 2020
- [Public Islam in Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso: a comparative overview of the use of media by Muslims since the 1970s](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/public-islam-cote-ivoire-burkina-faso.md) · Workshop presentation
  Workshop Media and ‘Public’ Islam in Africa & Elsewhere, University of Florida, United States, 24 January 2020
- [Militantisme islamique féminin au Burkina Faso: des processus sinueux d'émancipation religieuse](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/militantisme-islamique-feminin-burkina-2019.md) · Conference paper
  IIe Congrès international de l’Institut du Genre, University of Angers, France, 27 August 2019
- [Islam on University Campuses in Côte d'Ivoire since the 1970s: 'Muslim Intellectuals' and Francophone Salafism](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/islam-university-campuses-cote-divoire-2019.md) · Conference paper
  8th European Conference on African Studies (ECAS), University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 12 June 2019
- [Current Dynamics of Islam in Burkina Faso](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/current-dynamics-islam-burkina-faso.md) · Lecture
  Sahel Seminars, University of Florida, United States, 16 November 2018
- ['Plus rien ne sera jamais comme avant'? Young Muslims' new forms of civic engagement in Burkina Faso (2014-2017)](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/young-muslims-civic-engagement-burkina.md) · Workshop presentation
  Workshop Muslim Youth and Lived Islam in Africa & Beyond, University of Florida, United States, 19 October 2018
- [Les élites musulmanes en Côte d'Ivoire et au Burkina Faso depuis 1990 : des mobilisations politiques contrastées](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/elites-musulmanes-cote-divoire-burkina-faso.md) · Lecture
  Conférences midi du CIRAM, Université Laval, Canada, 25 September 2018
- ['Militantisme bissap', féminisme islamique et entrepreneuriat religieux en Côte d'Ivoire: Aminata Kane Koné, une figure de la réussite](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/militantisme-bissap-feminisme-islamique-2018.md) · Workshop presentation
  Workshop Entrepreneuriat religieux et figures de la réussite en Afrique subsaharienne: terrains et concepts, Université Laval, Canada, 8 September 2018
- [Le nouveau dynamisme du salafisme en Côte d'Ivoire: vers une radicalisation de l'islam ivoirien?](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/nouveau-dynamisme-salafisme-cote-divoire-2017.md) · Conference paper
  10th International Conference of the Mande Studies Association (MANSA), International University of Grand-Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire, 3 August 2017
- [L'islam au Burkina Faso et en Côte d'Ivoire: éveil et radicalisation?](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/islam-burkina-cote-ivoire.md) · Lecture
  76e conférence Archéopat, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Canada, 13 February 2017
- [The Organization of the Hajj and the State: Cohesion and Rivalries within the Muslim Community of Côte d'Ivoire (1993-2006)](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/hajj-organization-state-cote-divoire-2016.md) · Conference paper
  59th Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association (ASA), Washington D.C., United States, 3 December 2016
- [Évolutions et nouvelles formes de l'islam en Afrique de l'Ouest: vers une radicalisation?](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/evolutions-nouvelles-formes-islam-afrique-ouest.md) · Academic event
  Table-ronde organisée par le Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur l’Afrique et le Moyen-Orient (CIRAM), Université Laval, Canada, 24 March 2016
- [L'islam ivoirien et burkinabé à l'ère du numérique: des communautés musulmanes 2.0?](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/islam-ivoirien-burkinabe-numerique-2016.md) · Conference paper
  3ème rencontre des Jeunes Chercheur.e.s en Études Africaines, Paris Diderot University, France, 14 January 2016
- [Rue, islam associatif et enjeux citoyens: retour sur des orientations récentes au Sénégal, au Burkina Faso et en Côte d'Ivoire](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/rue-islam-associatif-enjeux-citoyens-2014.md) · Conference paper
  International Conference Le clos et l’ouvert. Acteurs religieux, acteurs sociaux et usages de la rue (Europe, Afrique, Asie, Amériques), Gaston Berger University, Senegal, 29 October 2014
- [Prêcheurs et prêcheuses au Burkina Faso: regards croisés sur leurs stratégies de communication religieuse depuis 1990](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/precheurs-precheuses-burkina-faso-2013.md) · Conference paper
  81e Congrès de l’Association Francophone pour le Savoir (Acfas), Université Laval, Canada, 7 May 2013
- [La médiatisation de l'islam à Ouagadougou depuis 1991: entre normalisation des discours et nouvelle agency des musulmans](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/mediatisation-islam-ouagadougou-2013.md) · Conference paper
  43rd Annual Canadian Association of African Studies Conference (CAAS), University of Ottawa, Canada, 3 May 2013
- [Imams, Islamic Preachers and Public Space in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) since the 1990s: Toward New Intergenerational Relationships and a Muslim Public Sphere](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/imams-islamic-preachers-ouagadougou-2013.md) · Conference paper
  2013 Africa Conference, University of Texas at Austin, United States, 29 March 2013
- [Imams et espace public à Ouagadougou depuis 1990: entre visibilité nouvelle et concertation entre les générations](https://www.frederickmadore.com/communications/imams-espace-public-ouagadougou-2012.md) · Conference paper
  42nd Annual Canadian Association of African Studies Conference (CAAS), Université Laval, Canada, 4 May 2012