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Les lettres du pouvoir au Sahel islamique : Marques, adaptations et continuités administratives au Borno (1823-1918)
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Dewiere, Remi (2019) Les lettres du pouvoir au Sahel islamique : Marques, adaptations et continuités administratives au Borno (1823-1918). Cahiers d'Etudes Africaines, 4 (236). pp. 1047-1090. doi:10.4000/etudesafricaines.27491 ISSN 0008-0055.
An open access version can be found in:
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.4000/etudesafricaines.27491
Abstract
Through the analysis of thirty-seven diplomatic letters from Borno (North-Eastern Nigeria), dated from 1824 to 1918, this article sheds new light on the functioning of an administration serving a Muslim dynasty in the Sahel before colonization. Beyond the norms that characterize the writing of power in Borno, the graphic variations of letters reveal an administration at work, one that adapts its scriptural practices according to the recipient. The graphological analysis of the handwriting then makes it possible to identify a family of secretaries dating back to the 16th century, whose charge was independent of the palace revolutions. Descendants of the imam Aḥmad b. Furṭū (c. 1576), these secretaries ensured an extraordinary continuity of power writing practices in Borno until the early years of colonization.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
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| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CB History of civilization C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CD Diplomatics. Archives. Seals D History General and Old World > DT Africa P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures |
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| Divisions: | Other > Institute of Advanced Study Faculty of Arts > History Faculty of Arts > Humanities Research Centre |
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| Journal or Publication Title: | Cahiers d'Etudes Africaines | ||||||
| Publisher: | Editions de l’E.H.E.S.S. | ||||||
| ISSN: | 0008-0055 | ||||||
| Official Date: | 10 October 2019 | ||||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | 4 | ||||||
| Number: | 236 | ||||||
| Page Range: | pp. 1047-1090 | ||||||
| DOI: | 10.4000/etudesafricaines.27491 | ||||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
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| Open Access Version: |
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