Islam, Christianity, Traditional Religions and Power Politics in Northern Nigeria Since Pre-Islamic Period
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Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2019 Islam, Christianity, Traditional Religions and Power Politics in Northern Nigeria Since Pre-Islamic Period Emmanuel M. Abar Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Africana Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, History of Christianity Commons, and the Islamic Studies Commons Recommended Citation Abar, Emmanuel M., "Islam, Christianity, Traditional Religions and Power Politics in Northern Nigeria Since Pre-Islamic Period" (2019). Dissertations. 1678. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1678 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY, TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS, AND POWER POLITICS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA SINCE PRE-ISLAMIC PERIOD by Emmanuel Abar Adviser: Nicholas Miller ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: ISALM, CHRISTIANITY, TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS, AND POWER POLITICS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA SINCE PRE-ISLAMIC PERIOD Name of researcher: Emmanuel Abar Name and degree of faculty adviser: Nicholas Miller, PhD Date completed: August 2019 Problem Currently in Northern Nigeria, religious interaction among the three major religious traditions, Islam, Christianity, and African Traditional Religion, is marred by violent religious conflicts. Also, competing concepts of religious legitimacy, which appeal to the historical heritage of Nigeria, are often used to validate and justify the violation of religious freedom. Does the current state of religious interaction among the various religious groups reflect the true heritage of religious interaction in Northern Nigeria? Or is it possible that the history of the interaction between African Traditional Religions, Islam, and Christianity in the past might actually be a heritage that points toward a solution regarding religious freedom and tolerance today? Method This is a qualitative historical study based on published primary and secondary sources by historians whose works relate the history of Northern Nigeria as it impacts religious interaction among the various religious traditions (African Traditional Religions, Islam, and Christianity) and its relation to power politics. This study validates historical data by comparing and analyzing a variety of historical sources, particularly on the religious history of Northern Nigeria beginning from pre-Islamic to colonial times. Three Northern Nigeria states, Borno, Kano, and Sotoko, are chosen as representative of the region. Although there is a limitation of primary historical sources in Northern Nigeria before the arrival of Islamic scholars in the eleventh century AD, this limitation has been compensated for by the documentation of oral traditions of Northern Nigeria. Findings This study shows that prior to the introduction of Islam in Northern Nigeria in the eleventh century AD, religious interaction among the adherents of African Traditional Religions was relatively peaceful. This state of relatively peaceful coexistence among the various religious traditions continued during early Islam, and the relationship between religion and civil affairs remained casual. However, beginning in the early nineteenth century the region deviated from its religious heritage of relative tolerance, and a casual overlap of religious and civil affairs, to a more intentional fusion of religion and politics, which has led to violent religious conflicts in Northern Nigeria. This change occurred, mainly as a result of the growing desire to consolidate the establishment of Islam within Hausaland and beyond by Islamic reformists. An understanding of the true history of Northern Nigeria’s religious heritage does not only correct the wrong impression that the region has always been involved in violent religious conflicts, but also, provides resources for those involved in dialogue towards religious freedom and tolerance in twenty-first century Nigeria. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY, TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS AND POWER POLITICS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA SINCE PRE-ISLAMIC PERIOD A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Emmanuel M. Abar August 2019 © Copyright by Emmanuel M. Abar 2019 All Rights Reserved ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY, TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS AND POWER POLITICS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA SINCE PRE-ISLAMIC PERIOD A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Emmanuel M. Abar APPOVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: ______________________________ _______________________________ Faculty Adviser, Director of PhD/ThD Program Nicholas Miller Thomas Shepherd Professor of Church History _______________________________ _______________________________ Trevor O’ Reggio Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Professor of Church History Jiří Moskala _______________________________ Bruce L. Bauer Professor of Missions _______________________________ Boubakar Sanou Assistant Professor of Mission and Leadership _______________________________ _____________________________ John Nengel Date Approved Professor of History, University of Jos Nigeria To the two most important women in my life, my late mom, Dinah, and my wife Bucky Abar, for joyfully sharing in my travails in the pursuit of quality education. TABLE OF CONTENTS MAPS ........................................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................ vi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION Background of the Problem ........................................................................ 1 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................... 4 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................... 4 Review of the Prior Research ..................................................................... 4 Methodology ............................................................................................... 7 Design of the Study .................................................................................... 8 Scope and Delimitation .............................................................................. 9 2. AN OVERVIEW OF THE RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF NORTHERN NIGERIA .......................................................................................................... 13 Introduction ................................................................................................ 13 Emergence of a Culture of Intolerance ....................................................... 16 3. A BACKGROUND OF RELATIVE TOLERANCE: BORNO, KANO, AND SOKOTO FROM PRE-ISLAMIC TIMES TO THE 15TH CENTURY AD ............................................................................................... 24 Introduction: Making a Case for Greater Tolerance, and Even Religious Freedom in Northern Nigeria ............................................... 24 Laissez Faire Tolerance before the Introduction of Islam .......................... 28 Religious Tolerance during Early Islam (11th to 14th Century AD .......... 35 4. FROM TOLERANCE TO INTOLERANCE: RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL AUTHORITIES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA, FROM THE 15TH TO EARLY 19TH CENTURY AD ....................................................... 61 Introduction ................................................................................................ 61 An Overview of the Interaction between Religion and Politics in Northern Nigeria ................................................................................... 63 Activities of Zealous Islamic Converts and Skirmishes between Kings iii and Muslim Leaders in Borno and Hausaland ..................................... 72 Borno .................................................................................................... 72 Hausaland ............................................................................................. 76 ‘Uthman Dan Fodio Jihad (1804-1808), the Sokoto Caliphate and Redefinition of Religious Tolerance and Freedom in Northern Nigeria ............................................................................................ 79 Precursors of the Jihad (1804-1808) ..................................................... 79 'Uthman dan Fodio (1754-1908), and the Jihad (1894-1808) .............. 84 The Sokoto Caliphate and Redefinition of Religious Freedom and Tolerance in Northern Nigeria ................................................. 98 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 104 5. A RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE COLONIAL LEGACY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA ............................................................ 105 Introduction ................................................................................................ 105 Religious and Political Interactions in Northern Nigeria Prior to, and During the Early Years of British Colonization ................................... 107 Christian Missionary Enterprise