Musical Structure of the Sufi Recitation Dhikr in Senegal: Focusing on the Contexts and Melodies of the Religious Practices

Abstract

In Senegal, one of the most significant Islamic practices is dhikr, whereby people across urban areas loudly and melodically recite God’s name, especially at night. More than 90 percent of Senegalese are said to be Muslim, and most of them adhere to Sufi doctrines that each possess their own style of dhikr. This article elucidates the relation between the musical structures of dhikr and the contexts of religious practices in which dhikr is conducted, focusing on the doctrine of Niassene, which is widespread in West Africa. In the Niassene doctrine, there are two main types of religious practices where dhikr is conducted: hadra, the religious gathering related to Friday prayer; and daayira, the local religious meeting. The fieldwork revealed that the melodies of dhikr are distinct in each type of practice. In hadra, people always recite the same melody and all disciples chant simultaneously. Conversely, in daayira, various melodies are chanted. The religious singers lead dhikr while improvising the melody, and the other disciples follow. It is suggested that the dhikr of daayira is more adaptable and clearly reflects the ritual, social, and musical values of the community.