This work investigates the historical and religious significance of Ajami poetry written by the Senegalese scholar Sëriñ Mbay Jaxate. Fallou Ngom, a professor of anthropology and linguistics, utilizes his expertise in African languages and Islamic studies to analyze these manuscripts. The book argues that Ajami—the use of Arabic script to write African languages—serves as a critical, under-examined repository of indigenous knowledge, religious devotion, and social history in West Africa. By translating and contextualizing Jaxate’s poetry, Ngom demonstrates how these texts bridge the gap between local Wolof traditions and broader Islamic intellectual frameworks.

Scholars in the field of African studies identify this text as a vital contribution to the study of Islamic literacy in West Africa. Experts frequently note the academic rigor of the translation process and the importance of the book in expanding the canon of religious literature beyond traditional Arabic-only sources.