Publications
Agricultural adaptation to multiple stressors in a climate change context
Bassari farmers in southeastern Senegal are adapting to multiple stressors—including climate change, market integration, and cultural shifts—but these adaptations often come with significant trade-offs that may limit long-term sustainability. The study found that while strategies like crop diversification and plot relocation help mitigate challenges such as reduced precipitation and increased crop mortality, they also introduce economic, social, and environmental costs. Women and poorer households bear the brunt of these burdens, highlighting disparities in adaptation outcomes. Conducted through participant observation and 47 semi-structured interviews, this research underscores the need for adaptive strategies that address not only climate change but also broader socio-economic and cultural dynamics to ensure equitable and sustainable agricultural resilience.
Le caractère ambivalent de la relation entre tourisme et patrimoine en pays Bassari (Sénégal)
Tourism in the Bassari Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012, presents both opportunities and challenges for local communities. While cultural tourism, ecotourism, and integrated rural tourism can drive local development and protect natural and cultural heritage, they also risk destabilizing traditional ways of life. A study led by Gaye (2020) analyzed these dynamics through surveys, interviews, and long-term observations, highlighting the need to balance tourism growth with the preservation of Bassari traditions and ecosystems.
Histories and Material Manifestations of Slavery in the Upper Gambia River Region: Preliminary Results of the Bandafassi Regional Archaeological Project
Archaeological evidence from the Bandafassi Regional Archaeological Project (BRAP) reveals significant changes in settlement patterns and defensive architecture in the Upper Gambia River region, highlighting the local impacts of Atlantic-era slavery. These material manifestations contrast with narratives used in UNESCO World Heritage applications, which emphasize interethnic ecological complementarities, and local tour guides' narratives, which focus on intercommunity politics and militarism. BRAP's approach analyzes historiographical silences and acknowledgments to uncover the complexities of slavery's role in shaping this multiethnic landscape, offering a nuanced perspective that complements broader regional studies.
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