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University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEPARTMENT FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS UNIVERSITY OF GHANA—LEGON THE PHENOMENON OF BASES IN GHANAIAN MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN ACCRA BY ALI BABA MOHAMMED (10443594) A THESIS SUBMITTEDED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE (MPHIL) IN THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS JUNE, 2015 i | P a g e University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I, Ali Baba Mohammed, do hereby declare that this thesis is the true result of the data that I personally collected and analyzed. I have duly acknowledged and cited all the written and oral sources that I consulted in the course of the research. I therefore hold myself accountable for errors, misrepresentations and misinterpretations found in this thesis. Ali Baba Mohammed (Candidate) Signature………………………… Date……………………….. Dr. Cosmas Ebo Sarbah (Supervisor) Signature………………………….. Date……………………………. Hajj Mumuni Sulemana (Supervisor) Signature…………………………… Date…………………………….. i ii | P a g e University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION I dedicate this work to Dr. Ibrahim Hussein, Hajj Mumuni Sulemana (Afa Sulley) and Sheikh Seebaway Zakaria whose contributions in my academic journey has been phenomenal. ii iii | P a g e University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I hereby express my deepest thanks and gratitude to the Most High for bringing me this far. I am grateful to my mother (Hajia Rabiatu) and wife (Hajia Adiza) for their love, support and constant prayer for me in my academic journey. I acknowledge and appreciate the diverse support I received from my lecturers especially Dr. Rabiatu Ammah. I am particularly indebted and grateful to my supervisors, Dr. Cosmas Ebo Sarbah and Hajj Mumuni Sulemana for their encouragement, tolerance and patience in going through the work and their useful criticisms and suggestions. I wish to express my gratitude to Rev. Dr. Ossom Batsa (Rawlings‘ Regime), Prof. Elizabeth Amoah (Grandma), Dr. Harry Agbanu, Dr. Rosemary Emenga, Dr. Lawrence Boakye, Hajia Fati Sulemana and all staff of the Religion‘s Department for their support. I appreciate the contributions of Mr. Kassim Mohammed Ameen, Mr. Mustapha Kuyatey, Mr. Shamuna Abdul Aziz, Mr. Mohammed Kassim, Mr. Sumaila Dankwabea, Mr. Sufyan Umar and Mrs. Asana Fuseini. My profound gratitude goes to my brothers and colleagues, Imam Mohammed Mujib and Imam Abdul Rahman Alhassan. I am also grateful to all respondents in this study, especially the Bases. iii iv | P a g e University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT Many people including some scholars are of the view that Bases are places of negative ideas and attitudes. They argue further that Bases increase the level of crime in the community and that; they also encourage laziness and discourage education. These points of view criminalise the phenomenon of Bases and seek their abolition. On the other hand, some people think that Bases contribute in one way or the other to the security of the community. They serve as mouth pieces for the youth of various communities. Additionally they give the people a sense of identity and a feeling of belongingness. They also contribute to the religious and social life of the community. The research adopted functional and theological approaches in tandem with the theory of amr bil ma’roof Wanahy anil munkar (enjoining virtue and forbidding indecency) to investigate the socio-religious activities of the Bases. This was done by drawing materials from oral and written sources on the emergence and activities of the Bases. The study concluded that, the Bases are being transformed into religious groups and they also contribute to the development of Islam in Accra. Attention is drawn to the fact that, there are well learned and educated personalities among the members of the various Bases. Although there are differences in doctrinal orientations of the members, the Bases are trying to bridge the gap that doctrinal differences bring in its wake. The research recommends that, the Bases should cooperate not only during religious activities but should also embark on economic ventures to generate funds to sustain their activities. v | P a g e University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION………………………………………………………………………..i DEDICATION……………………………………………………………………….... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………..iii ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………….iv TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………………..v CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.0 Background to the Study……………………………………………………...1 1.1 Statement of the Problem......................................................................................3 1.2 Research Question.................................................................................................4 1.3 Aims and Objectives.............................................................................................4 1.4 Scope and Sample of the Study............................................................................4 1.5 Methodology.........................................................................................................5 1.6 The Theological Approach....................................................................................5 1.7 The Functional Approach......................................................................................6 1.8 Data Collection......................................................................................................7 1.9 Theoretical Framework.........................................................................................8 1.10 Literature Review............................................................................................9 vi | P a g e University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh v 1.11 Limitations.................................................................................................22 1.12 Significance................................................................................................22 1.13 Organisation ...............................................................................................23 CHAPTER TWO: ISLAM AND THE YOUTH 2.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………..24 2.1 Islamic perspective of Youth.............................................................................24 2.2 An Ideal Muslim..................................................................................................25 2.3 Youth and Ethics……………………………………………………………….29 2.4 Parenting and Obedience to Parents in Islam…………………………………..32 2.5 Youth and Will Power………………………………………………………….37 2.6 Youth and Labour……………………………………………………………...40 2.7 Youth and Peer Influence……………………………………………………..42 2.8 Challenges of Youth…………………………………………………………...45 2.9 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………..50 CHAPTER THREE: THE EMERGENCE AND STRUCTURE OF BASES 3.0 Introduction..............................................................................................................51 3.1 Zongo in Recent Times............................................................................................51 vii | P a g e University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh vi 3.2 The Emergence of Zongo Communities..................................................................52 3.3 The Emergence of Bases.........................................................................................54 3.4 Wawa Road Base.....................................................................................................57 3.5 Angola Base.............................................................................................................59 3.6 Kubura Base.............................................................................................................63 3.7 Ibadu-Rahman Base.................................................................................................65 3.8 Chicago Base-New Town........................................................................................68 3.9 Adabul Failah Base...................................................................................................70 3.10 Chicago Base-Nima...............................................................................................72 3.11 Ibrahimiyyah Base..................................................................................................74 3.12 Ashaddu Haya‘an Base..........................................................................................76 3.13 Zumuratu Base.......................................................................................................78 3.14 Ahbab Jallo Base...................................................................................................80 3.15 Iddrissan Base........................................................................................................81 3.16 Yakubu Base..........................................................................................................83 3.17 Yaa Jalal Base........................................................................................................84 3.18 Sanusiyyah Base.....................................................................................................86 3.19 Conclusion...............................................................................................................88 CHAPTER FOUR: THE IMPACT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BASES ON THE ZONGO COMMUNITY vii viii | P a g e University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 4.0 Introduction……………………………………………………………………....90