Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the evolution of Catholic, Evangelical and Islamic associations in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso under the pressure of neoliberal developmental discourse, which prompts a transformation from a militant model to one derived from international development aid.

Paper long abstract:

From the 1980s onwards, multiple religious associations have emerged in Burkina Faso in the midst of a generalized upheaval of religious visibility and militancy in this country as well as in most of Africa. However, fieldwork research conducted in 2010-2011 in Ouagadougou confirmed an apparent shift in the attractive role of the associative milieus among young Muslims. Religious associations seem to loose part of their attractive aura with youth as the religious field is evolving from a militant model inspired by both the Sankarist revolution (1983-1987) and the early 1990s civil society democratic movements to the benefit of an economicist paradigm stressing the role of religion in the economic development of the country, understood in conformity with neoliberal principles. Thus, proper religious practice is becoming associated not so much with social and civic involvement through militancy but more with contributing to the economy through religious development-oriented non-governmental associations (NGOs) and entrepreneurship. This new ethics of capitalism, long associated with Evangelical prosperity gospel, is being appropriated by other communities, with prominent Catholic and Islamic preachers promoting a similar espousal of free market economy, which would need in their opinion a global mentality change, especially from young people. The strength of this discourse leads religious associations to reorient their actions from customary educational, spiritual and civic activities towards an increased emphasis on economically "useful" activities, leading the way to the transformation of these associations into local development NGOs.