Book a history of islam and the western nigeria

Islam reaches west africa, and a history of the islamic empire of ghana. With this dossier about islam in nigeria, the library. Then, two years ago, following the defeat of nigerias military dictatorship, a resurgent islamic movement backed the reimplementation of sharia criminal law across 12 states in the predominantly muslim north. It is on record that islam as a religion became prevalent in nigeria in the 9 th century during the reign of mai idris alooma, who ruled the borno empire till 1603. It was abolished when the british conquered the area in 1903 and established the northern nigeria protectorate. This is a short history of africa excluding egypt, ethiopia and dutch and british south africa, which are the subjects of separate histories. Christianity and roman catholicism has played a prominent role in the shaping of western civilization, which throughout most of its history, has been nearly equivalent to christian culture. The minaret in the delta is an account of the history of islam in the delta region of nigeria with particular reference to the city of port harcourt and its environs. Islam and colonial rule in northern nigeria books gateway. Jun 21, 2018 in nigeria, the intersection of christianity and islam in central and northern nigeria, to the exclusion of southwestern nigeriaand this is really where the question about southwestern nigeria. In many historical periods, islam has served as a source of unifying force as in the case of the sokoto caliphate during the nineteenth century. The most obvious is islam, not only as a faith but also as a source of identity and an important factor in social relations and politics. Why boko haram wages war against western education. From muhammad to isis is the first onevolume history of jihad in the english language, and the first book to tell the whole truth about islam s bloody history in an age when islamic jihadis are more assertive in western countries than they have been for centuries.

The book is often considered the seminal work of modern african literature and received accolades from author dylan thomas as well as other western intellectual figures of the time. Why boko haram wages war against western education usni. What is the best history book about the islamic world. Since the purpose of islam is to govern all nations and control all people, muslims are most offended by infidel secular governments. Islamic world islamic history from 1683 to the present. Today, islamic studies is taught as a religious course in nigerian universities. The histom1 ofls1am il1 africa ohio university press. The islamic system of education in nigeria kirusuf.

Any attempt to write a history book on africas largest country is always going to be a major undertaken. The history of nigeria prior to the beginnings of british administration is not well. Nigeria has the largest muslim population in west africa. History of islam in awe, oyo state, southwest nigeria lateef adetona on. Lagos, an area basically inhabited by the yoruba speaking people of south western nigeria and by extension some other parts of west africa where islam, christianity and the african traditional religion are still being practised side by side till date with the africans still being converted to the new faiths without dropping their traditional religion or cultural affiliations. Jun 10, 2016 the central aim of walkers book is to show how the history of northern nigeria, from the time of othman dan fodio until now has been shaped by the rise of islam and the conflict between islam. The factors responsible for the spread of islam in west africa proceedings of 72nd the ires international conference, mecca, saudi arabia, 23rd24th june 2017 65 simply because the activities of the berber and other muslim traders had started right from the beginning. The writer notes that while religion in nigeria often can be exploited by. Literacy made it possible for scholars to preserve the history and the oral traditions of some of the states in books.

Boko haram faction releases book on history and ideology. Sharia criminal law is practiced in only a handful of muslim countries, including iran. History early history little is known of the earliest history of nigeria. The truth about whether islamic values are compatible with. This important study traces the origins of this crisis to the historical impact of islam on northern nigeria. The first attempt to bring about islamic reform, or more precisely revolution, in the western sudan was that of the eleventhcentury almoravids. The nineteenthcentury jihads in west africa chapter 4. Islam probably first appeared in hausaland, one cannot be wholly certain because the sources arc inconclusive, in the fourteenth century. There were christians outside of the west, such as china, india, russia, byzantium and the middle east.

Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is today nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire. It borders on the gulf of guinea an arm of the atlantic ocean in the south, on benin in the west, on niger in the northwest and north, on. Islam was introduced to nigeria through two geographical routes. The history of the islamic faith on the continent of africa spans fourteen centuries.

Ceo and founder of demotix, the multipleawardwinning open newswire, discusses five books on islam and modernity and the politicisation of islam in the last decade. A major shift in literary style from fantasy to realism first resulted from the founding of the university college of ibadan nigeria s first university in 1948. Islam and politics in nigeria einternational relations. This is not only on the history of islam in awe town beside the legendary oyo city but a study of the town as a whole covering also all the religions therein the traditional religion. Activities of muslim clerics islam also spread into west africa through the activities of muslim clerics, marabouts and scholars or mallams. Spread of islam in west africa islam reached the savannah region in the 8th century c. Today jihad is being waged most fiercely in countries where muslim majorities live under secular government rulesuch as currently egypt, afghanistan, nigeria, turkey, iraq, and lebanon. Southern nigeria can be divided into two broad societies, namely, western and eastern societies. Despite this diversity, a common thread also exists in the politics of muslim states. Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria. This website is for people of various faiths who seek to understand islam and muslims.

The history of muslim antiwestern protests is older than. The history of the interior of west africa is the history of the movement of different peoples and a constant process of fusion between them. A cultural history of women of color in american islam. Aug 17, 2017 the history of islam in nigeria the nigerian region has had a long rich history. The best books on islam and modernity recommended by turi munthe. History of islam in nigeria before the advent of the jih. The paper discusses the two religions traditional and islam. This chapter describes the significance of muhammad b. Sharif a history of muslim philosophy the message book by jaffar subhani a restatement of the history of islam and muslims book,by. In the case of thurstons and loimeiers remarkable books, it also speaks to this fraught moment in the global history of islam. Islam is an old religion, with millions subscribing to the faith. It contains a lot of brief, yet informative articles.

The history of west africa in the nineteenth century is chequered with jihads islamic holy wars. History of islam in nigeria first major centralized state in northern nigeria was kanembornu, the occurrence of which belongs to the late 8th century a. In particular, international attention has been drawn to the application of sharia law to criminal offences and the. The wahhabi movement had an electrifying effect on the islamic world. Islamic education generally started with the first quranic revelation to the prophet of islam, muhammad s. First, the spread of islam began a millennium ago, predominantly in the north but later on extended to south western nigeria. Islam in nigeria islamic studies oxford bibliographies. The series will take up issues of religious and intellectual traditions, social significance and organization, and other aspects of the islamic presence in africa. As the literal word of god, the quran makes known the will of god, to which humans must surrender lending the name islam, meaning surrender. An introduction to the religion and history of islam african books. Spread of islam in west africa all parts the religion. Time and again islam s teachings uphold religious and personal freedoms. Galadima and turaki christianity in nigeria 87 factors which have contributed in shaping and defining the nature of the nigerian church.

Introduction history of islam in nigeria jihad islamic law sharia islam and politics islamic movements, islamic reform selected web resources there has been considerable recent media coverage of the implementation of islamic sharia law in the northern states of nigeria. The history of religions school sought to account for this religious diversity by connecting it with the social and economic situation of a particular group. This also coincided with the time islamic education began in the country especially in the northern part of nigeria. Chibok in ways that fall in line with nigeria s oftenviolent history and. The history of nigerian literature how nigeria news.

Nevertheless, islam is important in nigeria, with impacts on politics and social life. Islam, colonialism and slavery in northern nigeria. That islam has become an important part of yo rub a life in this century should be selfev. Nigerias sustained high population growth rate will continue for the foreseeable future because of population momentum and its high birth rate. In a book topping 700 pages and containing over 300 photographs, esposito brings together experts in fields such as early islamic history, art and architecture, science and medicine, islam in africa and southeast asia, and contemporary islam. Evidence of human inhabitation has been found as far back as 9000 bce. Boko haram reportedly released all but one of the girls by 21 march.

The entire history of islamic civilization is, of course, too much to cover in a single volume, but john esposito comes close. West of bornu, along the northern frontier of nigeria, is the land of the hausa people. The famous scholar ibn munabbah wrote as early as 738 c. Islam was now challenged to express itself within the framework of independent nations, with their focus on ethnicity, territoriality, and culture.

The history of islam in africa in searchworks catalog. From muhammad to isis is the first onevolume history of jihad in the english language, and the first book to tell the whole truth about islams bloody history in an age when islamic jihadis are more assertive in western countries than they have been for centuries. This book is not an attempt to write a history of west africa, but to show the way in which islam spread and moulded the history of the western. Katsina had occupied an important position in the history of islamic learning and intellectualism. This january 2000 new york times article offers an overview of islam in nigeria. These clerics or learned men founded their own religious centres which attracted students from all parts of the western sudan and who on. For the first time in a single volume, the history of islam in africa presents a detailed historic mapping of the cultural, political, geographic, and religious past of this significant presence on a continentwide scale.

The modern history of nigeria as a political state encompassing 250 to 400 ethnic. The house of war is every land where muslims do not yet ruleand where islamists will fight until they prevail no matter how long it takes. To the 15th century in nigeria was strengthened islam, it was brought here through the desert tradersmuslims. In 2003, about 520,000 domestic and international passengers were carried on scheduled flights. Islam and traditional titles in contemporary lagos society. Sep 17, 2012 the history of muslim anti western protests is older than obama or bush, drones or israel. In the ninth and tenth centuries the incoming movement of peoples into nigeria seems to have been part of the upheaval caused by the rise of islam in the middle. The western history genealogy department is recognized for. In the north, appeals to islamic legitimacy upheld the rule of the emirs, so that nationalist sentiments there were decidedly anti western. Do you want to read books on islamic history and you are confused. The yoruba of southwestern nigeria are exceptional for the copresence among them of three religious traditions. Borno is now among the poorest states in nigeria, but in the th century kanemborno was one of the most extensive kingdoms in subsaharan africa.

Typically, religions were divided into stages of progression from simple to complex societies, especially from polytheistic to monotheistic and from extempore to organized. The best books on islam and modernity five books expert. Spread of islam in west africa all parts the religion of. Islam reached the savannah region in the 8th century c. Islam began rather modestly among the yoruba in the r840s, but its influence grew dramatically, especially in western and northern yorubaland, so that by the end of the colonial period, nearly 50 percent of the population regarded themselves as believers. Some of the history of these countries, however, is naturally mentioned in this history of the rest of africa but is kept to the minimum needed to make the rest comprehensible. Among the great facts in the history of west africa prior to the age of european penetration has been the propagation of islam and the way it has changed african societies. The muslim ummah of south west nigeria muswen is the umbrella body for all muslims in south western nigeria as represented by the state muslim councilscommunities as well as muslim organisations and institutions domiciled in the six states in the region. Maiduguri, the capital of the state of borno in nigeria, is boko harams current base of operations. Islam in west africa chapter 56 a history of islamic societies.

As a young man achebe read the canon of western literature, but could not find his own peoples story there. Christianity face to face with islam by robert louis wilken. Trade was the major connecting link that brought islam into nigeria erinle oluwashola idris 2020. On 2 april, a boko haram attack on the outskirts of maiduguri resulted in the death of 18 people and another 84 wounded. As islam spread across the arabian peninsula and later across north africa and the middle east, it had an aggregating effect. From the above history of islamic education in nigeria, the spread of islam and the islamic education system can be more prevalent in the northern and south western tribes or ethnic groups in nigeria than in the east. Boko haram kidnapped 110 schoolgirls from the government technical girls college in dapchi, yobe, on 19 february 2018. Library of congress federal research division country profile. The origins of islam in the country is linked with the development of islam in the wider west africa.

Olufemi vaughans argument in religion and the making of nigeria speaks. According to law enforcement agencies, some are even being lured to nigeria where several have already been killed. Aliluris history of islam in nigeria discusses islam in west africa, traditions of islamic scholarship and politics in nigeria, the jihad of uthman. Islam, major world religion that emphasizes monotheism, the unity of god allah in arabic, and muhammad as his final messenger in a series of revelations.

Development of islam in a southwestern nigerian townawe. The author is a historian at the univerity of nigeria and a cultural christian. They were polytheistic and reaped all the political problems associated with polytheism. Nigerias population is projected to grow from more than 186 million people in 2016 to 392 million in 2050, becoming the worlds fourth most populous country. Well written by someone who has a firm grasp of islam and the danger it poses to the western world.

The author explores islamic colonialism and slavery in west africa and how their malign. Islam arrived in nigeria in the 11 th and 12 th centuries through trade, migration, and through the travels of the scholarmysticwayfarer along trade routes, through the regions of kanem and bornu had been in contact with muslim traders as early as the 9 th century. During this time, islamic institutions and practice put down roots in the region. Nielsen book data the history of the islamic faith in africa spans 14 centuries. First major centralized state in northern nigeria was kanembornu, the occurrence of which belongs to the late 8th century a.

Here is a list of famous books on islamic history and a little intro of the book to help you decide the book you may want to read. The history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc. From this perspective the 18th century was a period of degeneration and a prelude to european domination, symbolized by. Spencer sets out the history of islam and the book explains, amongst other points, the essential words that islam uses in reference to disbelievers like me. Case study of katsina state lawal yusuf malumfashi. The history of islamic education in nigeria cannot be complete without recasting our minds on the impacts it had made on the world at large. Its original centre is east of the lake, in the kanem region, but it soon extends to bornu on the western side. Muhammad qasim zaman presents a rich historical account of this major muslim nation, insights into the rise and gradual decline of islamic modernist thought in the. A case study of boko haram, journal of religion in africa 42. In the history of nigeria, toyin falola serves us a general sweep of nigeria s storied history beginning from the precolonial times right up to the dawn of the new millenium just as the country was making its second experiment with democracy. Before you answer because oil or because islam, keep in mind the angola and nigeria are enormous. List of books and articles about nigerian history online. The work is based on fact and is essentially historcal in interpretation.

It was through the chiefly courts that islamic elements filtered the culture of the common people. After decades of vacillating between periods of military rule and democracy, punctuated by coups, the nigerian fourth republic began as general abdusalami abubakar peacefully handed over power to olusegun obasanjo after democratic elections. In the 11th century the ruler of kanembornu converts to islam. This is the first book to tell the full story of this west african affiliate of the islamic state, from its. The oxford history of islam european colonialism and the. How islam spread into subsaharan region of west africa, and the great civilizations it established there, taking its inhabitants out of paganism to the worship of one god. Given the overemphasis placed on arab history as the totality of islamic history, it would be in the best interest of western historians to assess anew the history of islam in africa, and for muslims to reengage the heritage and reawaken the vitality of islam in africa. Brills islam in africa is designed to present the results of scholarly research into the many aspects of the history and presentday features of islam in subsaharan africa. Nigeria the sokoto caliphate was an independent sunni muslim caliphate in west africa that was founded during the jihad of the fulani war in 1804 by usman dan fodio. Ideals, policies, and operation of the sokoto caliphate eastwest university islamic studies by ibraheem sulaiman. Islam in pakistan is the first comprehensive book to explore islams evolution in this region over the past century and a half, from the british colonial era to the present day. The occupants of these areas had been nomadic tribes for a very long time.

In recent years violent attacks by muslims in nigeria have left thousands of christians dead. Find this book on abebooks, an amazon company, offers millions of new, used, and outofprint books. Where islam traces its history in western africa to the eleventh century, and a muslim kingdom was established in what is now nigeria in the fifteenth century, the christian mission in nigeria began in earnest only in the nineteenth century. During the 9th centurya trading empire grows up around lake chad. The history of nigeria before independence in order to understand the current nigerian politics and society, three dominant characteristics need to be taken into account. The new cambridge history of islam offers a comprehensive history of islamic civilization, tracing its development from its beginnings in seventhcentury arabia to its wide and varied presence in the globalised world of today and focusing on the cultural, social and religious diversity of. Nigeria airways also flies to many west african destinations, to nairobi, kenya, and jiddah, saudi arabia, and to new york, london, amsterdam, and rome. Islam introduced literacy as well as muslim education into west africa. The history of islam in africa ohio university press. Examples of such books are the tarikh es sudan written by alsadi in timbuktu in the seventeenth century. In this comprehensive history of the islamic faith in africa, a group of wellknown scholars have sought to identify the creative role that islam and muslims have played in the story of african development.

It was from north africa or almarahab that islam spread into the western and central sudan. Islam reached nigeria through the borno empire between 1068 bc and hausa states around 85 ad during the 11th century, while. The history of boko haram cannot be disentangled from the immense political change nigeria underwent during the 1999 transition to democracy. The truth about whether islamic values are compatible with western values.