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Engaging Modernity Muslim Women and the Politics of Agency in Postcolonial Niger Ousseina Alidou Women in Africa and the Diaspora Aili Tripp and Stanlie James, Series Editors Runner-up, Aidoo-Snyder Book Prize, Women’s Caucus of the African Studies Association, 2007 "This will change how you think about contemporary Muslim women." —Barbara Cooper, Rutgers University Engaging Modernity is Ousseina Alidou's rich and compelling portrait of Muslim women in Niger as they confront the challenges and opportunities of the twentieth century. Contrary to Western stereotypes of passive subordination, these women are taking control of their own lives and resisting domination from indigenous traditions, westernization, and Islam alike. Based on thorough scholarly research and extensive fieldwork-including a wealth of interviews—Alidou's work offers insights into the meaning of modernity for Muslim women in Niger. Mixing biography with sociological data, social theory, and linguistic analysis, this is a multilayered vision of political Islam, education, popular culture, and war and its aftermath. A gripping look at one of the Muslim world's most powerful untold stories. Ousseina Alidou is assistant professor in the Department of Africana Studies and Comparative Literature at Rutgers University and is director of the Program in African Languages and Literatures. She is coeditor of A Thousand Flowers: The Struggle for Education in African Universities and author of many articles on African linguistics, literature, and women's studies. Praise: “A compelling study that sheds light on how some Muslim women have created themselves a space of self-determination within the constraints that are imposed on them.” —Islamic Africa Media & bookseller inquiries regarding review copies, events, and interviews can be directed to the publicity department at publicity@uwpress.wisc.edu or (608) 263-0734. (If you want to examine a book for possible course use, please see our Course Books page. If you want to examine a book for possible rights licensing, please see Rights & Permissions.)

November 2005 LC: 2005005434 HQ 264 pp.    6 x 9   10 b/w photos Paper $29.95 s ISBN 978-0-299-21214-8 ADD TO CART   • 2005 hardcover, UWP, ISBN 978-0-299-21210-0

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