Department of Education Support Services and International Partnership
National Commission for Colleges of Education, Abuja - Nigeria
AN EXAMINATION OF SOCIO-RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF SUFI ADHERENTS IN BIDA, NIGER STATE
Socio-religious concept is a term that was derived from a compound word of “social and religion” meaning different activities of people in communities which some historians suggested to be part and parcel of religions especially Islam. The paper seeks to encapsulate Bida in Nupe land, economic situation and locations where Nupe people are located in Nigeria, including their early religious worship such as Kuti (idol) which exist among people up to the time of introduction of Islam by some agents like Wangarawa Muslim scholars from Mali and Malam Muhammadu Bagana popularly known by Nupe people as “Manko” and others. The emergence of Sufism was assessed rightly from the time of Qadiriyyah Sufi practice and some scholars that were known with it like Sheikh Abdulrahman Muhammad bn Sharif and Sheikh Muhammad Wazir (1882-1945) called “Waziri Mamma” before the emergence of Tijjaniyyah Sufi order during the reign of 2nd Etsu Nupe Muhammadu Saba (1859-1873) known as “Ma’asaba” by Nupe people through a scholar Man-Haruna, alias “Man-yisa Naku” in Banwuya among people in Bida. The paper provides an overview of some socio-religious practices of Sufis in Bida, Niger State with the way and manner they are practice in accordance with the teachings of Islam. The paper examines the effects of training on adherents among Sufis in Bida, Niger State. In this paper, exploratory design method would be used for obtaining data from relevant areas of primary and secondary sources.
Keywords: Bida, Examination, Nupe Land, Religious, Sufi and Socio-religious
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- List of Informants
- Abdul-Aziz Bukhari (50 years), driver, interviewed at Bida on 18th June, 2023.
- Alhaji Ibrahim Suleiman (55 years), Sufi Muqaddam, interviewed at Bwari, Abuja (FCT) on 26th June, 2023.
- Alhaji Usman Alhassan (54 years), Sufi Muqaddam, interviewed at Minna on 30th December, 2022.
- Baba Alhaji Ndaman (47 years), student, interviewed at Banyagi Bida on 27th December, 2022.
- Baba Nasiru Abdulrahman (66 years), retired public servant, interviewed at Bida on 17th February, 2023.
- Habibu Muhammadu (46 years), civil servant, interviewed at Minna on 14th June, 2023.
- Hajiya Aishatu Yawa (88 years), House wife, interviewed at Sabongida area Bida on 3rd July, 2023.
- Hajiya Aishatu Yawa (88 years), House wife, interviewed at Sabongida area Bida on 3rd July, 2023.
- Hassan Ibrahim Ndalikali, (50 years), civil servant, interviewed at Bida on 28th July, 2023.
- Malam Alfa Bamisun (52 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at 4th January, 2023.
- Malam Bukhari Aminu Yusuf (54 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Bida on 2nd January, 2023.
- Malam Habibu Usman Baro (64 years), retired civil servant, interviewed at Bida on 31st May, 2023.
- Malam Habibu Usman Baro (64 years), retired civil servant, interviewed at Bida on 31st May, 2023.
- Malam Hadi Basiru Ismaila (52 years), civil servant, interviewed at Bida on 12th June, 2023.
- Malam Ibrahim Saidu (61 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Bida on 3rd July, 2023.
- Malam Ismaila Badamasi (49 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Bida on 27th December, 2022.
- Malam Kudu Tsonfada (67 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Edogifu, Bida on 27th December, 2022.
- Malam Lawal Yusuf (57 years), trader and Sufi Muqaddam, interviewed at Minna on 14th June, 2023.
- Malam Muhammadu Danladi (50 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Tadafu Bida on 2nd January, 2023.
- Malam Mustapha Sanusi (54 years), Sufi Muqaddam, interviewed on 13th January, 2023.
- Malam Nasir Yusuf (60 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Abuja 12th December, 2022.
- Malam Ndaman Abubakar (49 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Bida on 14th June, 2023.
- Malam Sallah Mahmud (57 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed in Bida on 12th June, 2023.
- Malam Sani Yusuf (62 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Gwagwa Abuja on 15th July, 2023.
- Malam Suleiman Aliyu Shafii (47 years), farmer and Sufi, interviewed at Bida on 1st June, 2023.
- Malam Tanko Saidu Shehu (55 years), Nupe historian, interviewed at Minna, Niger State on 12th June, 2023.
- Malam Tijjani Yakubu (63 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Bida on 18th February, 2023.
- Malam Usman Baba (48 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Bida on 17th May, 2023.
- Malam Yabagi Abdulkadir (51 years), contractor, interviewed at Bida on 24TH May, 2023.
- Malam Zubairu Garba (48 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Abuja on 8th November, 2021.
- Malama Habiba Abdullahi (58 years), Islamic woman preacher, interviewed Bangbara Bida on 2nd January, 2023.
- Mayaki Isah Naibi (52 years), civil servant and Sufi, interviewed at Bida on 31st May, 2023.
- Ndagiman Takowasa (42 years), electrician, interviewed at Bida on 4th January,2023.
- Sani Muhammadu (39 years), student, interviewed at Bida on 4th January, 2023.
- Sheikh Idris Muhammadu (73 years), Imam Banwuya mosque, interviewed at Bida on 2nd January, 2023.
- Sheikh Idris Muhammadu (73 years), Imam Banwuya mosque, interviewed at Bida on 2nd January, 2023.
- Sheikh Idris Muhammadu (73 years), Imam Banwuya mosque, interviewed at Bida on 2nd January, 2023.
- Sheikh Muhammadu Abdullahi (64 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Bida on 2nd January, 2023.
- Sheikh Muhammadu Gimba (53 years), Islamic scholar, interviewed at Darachita Bida on 17th February, 2023.
- Silas Tsado (52 years), civil servant and historian, interviewed at Banyagi, Bida on 31st May, 2023.
- Suleiman Babadoko (48 years), civil servant, interviewed at Bida on 27th December, 2022.
- Suleimanu Ndabagi Tetengi (46 years), civil servant and Sufi, interviewed at Bida on 26th December, 2022.
- Zubairu Iliyasu Tela (54 years), Qur’anic teacher, interviewed at Bida on 4th January, 2023.