'Returnees' and political poetry in Western Sahara: defamation, deterrence and mobilisation on the web and mobile phones

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Periodical article

Title:	'Returnees' and political poetry in Western Sahara: defamation, deterrence and mobilisation on the web and mobile phones
Author:	Boulay, Sébastien
Year:	2016
Periodical:	The Journal of North African Studies (ISSN 1743-9345)
Volume:	21
Issue:	4
Pages:	667-686
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Western Sahara Morocco
Subjects:	national liberation struggles Saharawis poetry migrants
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/13629387.2016.1185942
Abstract:	This article explores the relationships between literature, migration and politics in Western Sahara, in a context of a four-decade decolonisation conflict. Since a few years, some Polisario Front personalities have been rallying the Moroccan 'side' and have aroused the production and circulation, on the web and mobile phones, of a new kind of satirical poetry targeting these 'ralliés' considered as betrayers of the independence cause. This sensitive literature, whether funny or violent, rare but successful, amuses and disturbs Sahrawi audiences, provokes poetic responses, creates new debate opportunities and allows social sciences to better understand how politicians from both parties try to exploit and/or control population movements in that area and how people live and manoeuvre around these policies. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]