African traditions in Le Mariage par colis (2004) by Binta Ann: an example of solidarity among Black Africans

Abstract

This article analyses Le Mariage par colis (2004) by Binta D. Ann from a sociological perspective, using Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts. It explores solidarity among African migrants and the tensions between community support and the hardships of exile. Through Cheick Diallo’s experience, the text examines how solidarity, understood as social capital, fluctuates between being a resource and a constraint. The study also highlights symbolic violence shaping migrants’ social interactions and integration into a hostile urban environment, particularly in “station-cities” (villes-gare), precarious transit spaces. Additionally, the article explores the conflict between the protagonist’s rural habitus and the demands of the urban environment, revealing mechanisms of social domination and adaptation. Furthermore, it underscores the role of the umma, a religious concept structuring solidarity among Muslim migrant communities. Finally, it reflects on the evolution of these dynamics in the era of globalization.