Salafism between purism and politicking: Chieftaincy struggles, party competition, and the Anbariya movement in Dagbon, Northern Ghana.

This article examines the political involvement of the Ghanaian Anbariya movement, a reformist Salafi Islamic group founded in the 1950s by cleric Afa Ajura in the Dagbon Kingdom. It argues that the movement's sustained engagement in secular party politics is closely linked to the longstanding chieftaincy rivalry between the Abudu and Andani royal gates, with Anbariya aligning with the Andani faction and supporting political parties sympathetic to their cause, notably the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The study highlights how pre-existing communal cleavages, such as ethnic and dynastic conflicts, can shape the political preferences and activism of religious actors, challenging simplistic associations of Salafism solely with militancy. By tracing the Anbariya's historical and political trajectory, the article contributes to understanding the complex interplay between Salafi activism, intra-Islamic competition, and secular electoral politics in African contexts.