The Jakhanke

The Jakhanke was authored by Lamin O. Sanneh and originally published in 1979 under the auspices of the International African Institute. The work serves as a comprehensive scholarly examination of the Jakhanke people, a distinct Islamic clerical group found primarily in Senegambia. Sanneh, a renowned historian of religion, wrote this text to document the intellectual and social history of these itinerant scholars, placing their tradition of pacifism and religious devotion within the broader context of West African history.

Sanneh’s work is highly regarded for its rigorous approach to ethnographic and historical research, grounded in his deep familiarity with the region. By analyzing the Jakhanke's educational systems and their influence on the spread of Islam, Sanneh provided an essential academic resource that challenged prevailing narratives of the time. The book remains a seminal text for researchers interested in African Islamic history, noted for its archival depth and its respectful engagement with local oral traditions and manuscript cultures.