like a wizard

Pretty good if you are interested in French West Africa. Robinson describes the interactions between Muslim (Sufis) and the French colonial government between 1880ish to the 1920s. It is in line with the debate over 'resistance' and 'collaboration' to/with colonial rule - Robinson argues that the concept of resistance/collaboration is inadequate and loaded, and argues instead for using the word 'accommodation' to describe the situation. You can tell he was Babou's (of The Greater Jihad fame) academic advisor. However, they do differ in their accounts of the rise of Amadu Bamba's Murids, as Robinson places greater emphasis on the colonial peanut economy as a central player in establishing relationships between the French and the Senegalese Murids.