ISLÃM AND ITS IMPACT IN ISLÃM AND ITS IMPACT IN YORUBALAND. (SOUTH-WEST YORUBALAND. (SOUTH-WEST

NIGERIA).NIGERIA).PRESENTED BY.PRESENTED BY.

AHMAD FAOSIY OGUNBADO.AHMAD FAOSIY OGUNBADO.PH.D CANDIDATE.ISTAC, IIUM.PH.D CANDIDATE.ISTAC, IIUM.

tunbado@hotmail.comtunbado@hotmail.com

AT THEAT THE UKM-MAHIDOL 4 – REEXAMINING UKM-MAHIDOL 4 – REEXAMINING RELATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.RELATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. ON ON

MARCH MARCH 2255 to to 2626, 20, 2010 AT10 AT THETHE UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA. MALAYSIA.

INTRODUCTION.INTRODUCTION.

Nigeria is a country situated in southern Nigeria is a country situated in southern coast of west Africa.coast of west Africa.

It borders with Lake Chad,Niger,Cameroon It borders with Lake Chad,Niger,Cameroon and Republic of Benin.and Republic of Benin.

It has 150 millions population. Muslim-It has 150 millions population. Muslim-majority.majority.

It has more than 250 ethnic groups, with It has more than 250 ethnic groups, with different languages, 3 major ethnic groups different languages, 3 major ethnic groups are Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Ibo.are Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Ibo.

It has 36 states with Abuja as Capital city.It has 36 states with Abuja as Capital city.

Cont.Cont.

Yoruba land situated in southwest of Yoruba land situated in southwest of the countrythe country

It borders with Borgu,Nupe,Esan and It borders with Borgu,Nupe,Esan and Edo.Edo.

It has six states, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, It has six states, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.Ondo, Osun and Oyo.

Cont.Cont.

Yoruba Traditional Religion.Yoruba Traditional Religion.

Religion is equally important as Religion is equally important as politics and Kingship.politics and Kingship.

Yoruba religion is Monotheistic in Yoruba religion is Monotheistic in nature…nature…Olodumare,Olodumare,(Supreme Being).(Supreme Being).

Worshiping Worshiping Orisa(s)Orisa(s) (Deities) as (Deities) as intermediary.intermediary.

The Orisas are numerous. The Orisas are numerous. Orisanla, Orisanla, OgunOgun,(god of iron),,(god of iron), Sango Sango (god of (god of lightning),lightning),Oya, Osun,Ifa and so on.Oya, Osun,Ifa and so on.

Spread of Islam in Yorubaland.Spread of Islam in Yorubaland.

““Yorubaland were predominantly Yorubaland were predominantly unbelievers and Islām was rarely unbelievers and Islām was rarely found”. found”. Ali Baba (d 1610A.D).Ali Baba (d 1610A.D).

Yoruba knew about Islam during the Yoruba knew about Islam during the time of Mansa Musa of Mali (late 14 time of Mansa Musa of Mali (late 14 c. to early15 c.) through the Mali c. to early15 c.) through the Mali traders and Ambassadors. traders and Ambassadors. Al-AluriAl-Aluri

The first mosque was built in Oyo-ile The first mosque was built in Oyo-ile in 1550 A.D.in 1550 A.D.

Cont.Cont.

Islām was established in Iwo about Islām was established in Iwo about 1655 A.D. 1655 A.D.

Islām spread to Iseyin 1760 A.D.Islām spread to Iseyin 1760 A.D. First mosque in Lagos in 1774 A.D.First mosque in Lagos in 1774 A.D. Saki in 1790 A.D., Oshogbo in 1889.Saki in 1790 A.D., Oshogbo in 1889. Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ijebuode,Ikirun, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ijebuode,Ikirun,

and Ede knew about Islam before and Ede knew about Islam before Fulani JihādFulani Jihād..

Sacred Transformation.Sacred Transformation.

Idea of Supreme Being paved way to the Idea of Supreme Being paved way to the new concept of Allah as Supreme Being, new concept of Allah as Supreme Being, however it negated associating other gods however it negated associating other gods to HIM. (to HIM. (La ilah ila Allahu, wahdau la La ilah ila Allahu, wahdau la sharika lahusharika lahu).).

Islam reforms the idea of worshiping orisa Islam reforms the idea of worshiping orisa to worshiping Allah alone and direct. No to worshiping Allah alone and direct. No more intermediary.more intermediary.

It reforms attitude of asking help from It reforms attitude of asking help from Orisas , like Ogun, Obatala and Osun to Orisas , like Ogun, Obatala and Osun to asking Allah.(asking Allah.(waidha saalta fasal laha).waidha saalta fasal laha).

Impact on Education and language.Impact on Education and language.

Establishment of Arabic Schools Establishment of Arabic Schools reduces the level of ignorance.reduces the level of ignorance.

Yoruba Language were written in Yoruba Language were written in Arabic letters or character called Arabic letters or character called Ajami.Ajami.

Enrichment of Yoruba language Enrichment of Yoruba language through the Arabic vocabularies. Ex. through the Arabic vocabularies. Ex. Rituals. Rituals.

Impact on Culture and Custom.Impact on Culture and Custom.

Ifa (oracle) consultation is Islamized to Ifa (oracle) consultation is Islamized to Istikhara (inquiries prayer).Istikhara (inquiries prayer).

Celebration of Orisa festival is transformed Celebration of Orisa festival is transformed or replaced by celebrating or replaced by celebrating eid-l-fitri and eid-l-fitri and eid l-kabireid l-kabir..

Women and men Outlook is modified. Women and men Outlook is modified. Boundary-less Polygamy is curtailed or Boundary-less Polygamy is curtailed or

modified into four as a time.modified into four as a time. Personal Names were also transformed, Personal Names were also transformed,

Sangobunmi is transformed to Olubunmi. Sangobunmi is transformed to Olubunmi.

Cont.,Cont.,

Model of city building.Model of city building. Shrines in city center and market Shrines in city center and market

places were replaced by Central places were replaced by Central mosques in major Yoruba cities.mosques in major Yoruba cities.

Conclusion.Conclusion.

The impact of Islām as a religion and The impact of Islām as a religion and way of life in Yoruba land is way of life in Yoruba land is enormous.enormous.

The impact of Islām can be seen on The impact of Islām can be seen on Yoruba believe, language, education, Yoruba believe, language, education, culture, custom and so on.culture, custom and so on.

End.End.

Thank you all for your patience.Thank you all for your patience.

May Almighty Allāh bless you all.May Almighty Allāh bless you all.

Amen.Amen.