Edited by Fatou Sow and published by CODESRIA in collaboration with the DAWN network, this 2018 bilingual volume explores the conditions under which religion and culture become intertwined with socio-political fundamentalisms in different African contexts. Bringing together contributions in both French and English, the publication examines how Islamic, Christian, and traditionalist discourses are mobilised in debates on law, public policy, citizenship, and social change. The volume situates these developments within broader political and economic transformations, including state restructuring, social insecurity, and processes associated with globalisation.

Several chapters examine the implications of fundamentalist movements for gender relations, women’s rights, and democratic participation. The collection discusses how appeals to “authentic tradition” are used in debates over sexuality, reproductive rights, and family regulation, while also exploring tensions between universal human rights frameworks and local cultural narratives. Featuring contributions such as Karima Bennoune’s work on women’s human rights and Karine Geoffrion’s study of religious fundamentalism in Ghana, the volume documents a range of feminist responses, including reinterpretations of religious texts, mobilisation against female genital mutilation, and advocacy for women’s citizenship and political participation.