'¡Estos locos cubarauis!': the Hispanisation of Saharawi society (... after Spain).

It can be argued that the Western Sahara forms part of the Hispanic world, not only linguistically but also culturally, despite being an African, Arab and Muslim society. However, the process of Hispanisation is a new and ongoing process that has to do, more than with the poor Spanish colonial legacy, with postcolonial connections with Latin America. A significant part of the emerging Saharawi élites have been educated in Cuba. As a result, the Cubarawis are a new 'tribe' that is contributing to the definition of the new Saharawi society -and also generating tensions. This article explores this encounter between an African, Muslim and Arab refugee nation and the 'Hispanic' world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]