Mapping Defiance: Dr. Mark Deets on the Casamance Conflict

This episode of The Africanist Podcast features a rich and thought‑provoking conversation with Dr. Mark Deets of the American University in Cairo, whose award‑winning monograph A Country of Defiance (Ohio University Press 2023) has reshaped scholarly understanding of the Casamance conflict in Senegal. In this episode, Dr. Deets walks listeners through the spatial and historical dynamics that have shaped the region’s long‑running struggle, offering a perspective that moves beyond conventional political narratives. His approach highlights how geography, memory, and local identity intersect to produce a conflict that is both deeply rooted and continually evolving. The discussion brings clarity to a topic that is often misunderstood, making it accessible without sacrificing analytical depth. The book is both grounded and expansive, weaving together archival insights, fieldwork experiences, and theoretical reflections. 

Music: Jammu Africa by Ismaila Lo; Jaàm by Julien Juga ft. Doudou Ndiaye Rose