Mark Deets on alternative futures of the Casamance

In this episode Mark Deets (AUC) joins editor Abou Bamba (Gettysburg) to discuss “Ambiguous Echoes of the Colonial Partition: Alternative Futures from the Casamançais Past in Senegal.” This featured review explores Séverine Awenengo Dalberto’s L’idée de la Casamance autonome (Karthala Edition, 2024) as well as the political controversy surrounding its publication. In the podcast, Deets further discusses his own work on the Casamance—notably his book A Country of Defiance (2023, Ohio University Press)—and offers insights on Senegalese politics, historical contingency, and the importance of academic freedom and solidarity as scholars delve into important but sensitive historical questions.