In Memoriam: Abdou Salam Fall

On 15 August, the sad news reached us that Prof. Dr Abdou Salam Fall had suddenly passed away in Saint-Louis, Senegal. Abdou Salam Fall will be remembered as one of Senegal’s most remarkable intellectuals, with a great charisma in Africa and beyond. He was professor at the Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire (IFAN) of the Université Cheikh Anta Diop (Dakar). Formed as a sociologist, he obtained a Phd in urban sociology at the same university,  and another PhD in economic sociology at the University of Amsterdam. His Dutch supervisors, Abraham de Swaan and Gerti Hesseling (former director of the ASCL) received regular visits of Abdou. He kept them in high esteem. The African Studies Centre in Leiden was part of his Dutch family.

Fall combined a deep engagement with society, and societal problems, with research. One of his important contributions is his work on the social solidarity economy (économie sociale et solidaire), that for him meant to bring the development of society to the people. He was one of these intellectuals who did not stay in his office, but went out, travelled to investigate the social issues that needed to be addressed. His domains of interest were related to social economy, migration, education, and public health. He published in academic journals, but also wrote numerous policy reports and was involved in public debates, in Senegal, Canada, Europe and Africa at large. He has always advocated a major role for the social sciences (sociology and anthropology) in the development of Africa.

He established the Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Transformations Economiques et Sociales (LARTES-IFAN, directly linked to Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar) as a new research institute in 2012, and directed a graduate school at LARTES (Sciences Sociales Appliquées au Développement) where numerous students have found both the necessary quiet and lively environment, filled with debates that helped them develop their research. Under his guidance LARTES also built large databases on the quality of education and the situation of youth, not only for Senegal but also for neighbouring countries. He did not cling to high positions and quickly formed a team of capable academics who made LARTES great, but with Abdou Salam Fall's guiding hand in the background. In 2022 he handed over leadership. Today, LARTES is headed by Prof. Rokhaya Cissé. Together with a team full of enthusiastic academics she will continue to direct LARTES in the spirit of Abdou Salam Fall.

LARTES also gave Prof. Fall the liberty he needed to develop his ideas. And so he became this important voice for an African sociology that focused on the possibility to change societies that had seen poverty - forcing people to leave the country - for too long. He situated the causes for underdevelopment also with the governments in Africa that did not protect their populations enough, nor developed a social economy that allow people to live a decent life. His academic publications and policy reports will continue to inform African (and other) leaders on how to build a social and inclusive economy in the future.

Abdou Salam Fall preferred to be called ‘Salam’ by his friends, and for us this name comprises all that he was and stood for: peace, greetings, hospitality and welcome. Salam left us too suddenly and therefore we can only say it here: Thanks for your hospitality and for the opportunities you gave so many young academics(-to-be), and to us, ASCL colleagues, the entrance into Dakar’s stimulating academic environment. We learned from you how to show that poverty is unnecessary and can be tackled in a coherent manner if there is political will.  

Mirjam de Bruijn is professor at the ASCL and Leiden University, and a member of the scientific committee of LARTES.

Boukary Sangaré is a PhD candidate at Leiden University. He spent time at LARTES during his studies several times.

Han van Dijk is professor at Wageningen University, where he collaborates with LARTES. He is also a former colleague of the ASCL.

Mayke Kaag is professor at Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam.

(Photo: LARTES-IFAN)