Football navétane versus football fédéral dans les quotidiens généralistes sénégalais (1970-2012)

Abstract

During the rainy season and school vacation, Senegalese youth have regularly participated in informal “balls on the margins” tournaments and other sociocultural activities between cities, towns, and neighboorhoods—known as “navétanes.” Since its conception in the mid-twentieth century, the navétane phenomenon has been a movement whereby government power could be contested. Through an analysis of the major Senegalese daily newspapers, this study shows how a mutual dynamic and influence took place between navétane football—considered “savage”—and conventional football—considered elite—which lead both forms to blend, further highlighting how the papers echoed processes of creolization and resportivisation.