Oguaa Journal of Religion and Human Values

Muslim Organizations and Colonialism in Africa

Abdussalam Alhaji Adam, Akeem A. Akanni — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Muslim organizations have long played an important role in shaping African societies and cultures. Prior to the colonial era in the late 19th century, traditional Muslim institutions governed religious doctrine and practice, administered religious endowments and supported cultural and educational activities across the continent. However, the imposition of European colonial rule disrupted these indigenous structures and systems of authority. Colonial powers sought to undermine the influence of Muslim leaders and control how Islam was practiced. They imposed restrictions on many Muslim organizations and activities.In response, new reformist and revivalist movements emerged to defend Islamic identities and practices against colonial interference. Cultural and educational associations also grew to promote Muslim knowledge and identity. Some organizations began espousing early strains of anti-colonial nationalism. As African states gained independence in the mid-20th century, Muslim organizations regained legitimacy and restored many traditional institutions. New mass membership bodies emerged focused on social and political empowerment. Today, Muslim organizations play an active role in communities through education, social services and representing Muslim interests to governments, though debates continue around modernization, identities and the relationship between religion and politics.

Christian Missions and Economic Empowerment of the People of Cross River State, Nigeria, 1885-1960

Theresa Nfam Odeigah — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The nineteenth century Christian missionary activities in Cross River State as in other parts of Nigeria were mainly targeted at evangelisation of the people. Christianity has become the dominant religion in Cross River State and the people believe that it is a religion of civilisation and development. The resultant effect of different positions of some scholars is that colonialism has become a stigma for Christianity in contemporary times. To this extent, missionary work in Africa will continue to attract stringent and critical historical examination. It will however be intellectual dishonesty to write off the positive results of missionary work in Cross River State. This paper therefore, examines the contributions of missionary work in empowering the people of Cross River State from 1885 to 1960. The research adopted historic-structural approaches using primary and secondary sources. This includes qualitative interviews and books and journals. The findings of this research show that modern medical practise, theological education as well as education generally, skills acquisition, poverty alleviation and attention to the vulnerable such as children, orphans, widows, the sick and the elderly, through appropriate influence on negative traditions are some of the areas where missionary work has impacted positively on the people. It concludes that the Christian Missions contributed tremendously to the economic empowerment and enlightenment of the people of Cross River State of Nigeria.

A Christian Engagement and Interpretation of Ga Rites of Passage and the Kpelelogical Theological Method

Rev. Charles Amarkwei — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The paper studies the dialogical relationship between the gospel and Ga rites of passage. There is a paradox in this relationship which only becomes meaningful only by considering its mediation through the person and works of Jesus Christ. This view allows a mutual critical approach which resolves the paradox of the initial rejection of Ga rites of passage by the gospel and their later acceptance after they have been transformed and preserved by the mystery of Christ. In this way, Ga rites of passage become useful in the light of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, while the gospel adds on to itself the contextual elements of Ga holistic existence. The paper looks at how this paradoxical relationship between Ga rites and the Christian gospel underlies the processes transforming the liturgy of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and helping to preserve important Ga traditions and culture in Christianity for of church and of society.

Muslim Dress Code and Its Health Benefits

Akeem A. Akanni, Abdussalam A. Adam — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This article provided an overview of the history and benefits of Muslim dress code. It traced the origins and evolution of modest clothing styles prescribed in Islam and explored regional variations across Muslim majority cultures. Key benefits of adhering to Islamic dress standards around modesty are examined, including spiritual discipline, health aspects of loose fitting garments, and cultural identity affirmation. Common types of traditional Muslim attire such as hijāb, jalbāb and abāya are defined. The paper also looked at modern trends integrating Islamic dress principles with contemporary fashion design. Issues pertaining to social discussions on Muslim dress code in the context of religious freedom, cultural integration and stereotyping are critically analyzed.

Neo-Prophetism and the Commercialisation of Religion in Ghana

George Anderson Jnr, Seth Tweneboah — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Drawing on the commercialisation of religious items and services by Ghana’s neo-prophetic actors, this paper seeks to draw a relationship between existential insecurity, reliance on religion and associated abuses. The paper brings to the fore the factors that push religious followers to patronise the services of prophetic actors. It contends that a symbiotic dependence between prophetic actors and their followers in terms of what the paper identifies as religious dependence, opportunism and interdependency fuels and fans the commercialization of religion in the Ghanaian neo-prophetic Christianity. The paper also interrogates the ways in which the attempt to meet the demands of religious consumers yields itself to certain forms of violations and abuses. The paper does this via the qualitative approach to research with interviews and participant observation

The Rewards of Hospitality: A Case Study of Gen 18:1-16a

Alexander Salakpi — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Hospitality is a value ingrained in all human beings. Ghanaians love to practice hospitality and it is common to hear foreigners mention “Ghanaian Hospitality.” Unfortunately, this valuable gift seems to elude contemporary Ghanaians. The practice of hospitality has been taken advantage of by armed robbery, pretenders, and lazy people, so that a hospitable person becomes a victim of their attack. Instead of the rewards of hospitality, cheerful heart, smiles, joy, that perpetuates healthy life, sadness, grief, sorrow, sickness and sometimes death have become the result. Consequently, Ghanaians have become afraid and reluctant to practice this virtue. Engaging traditional Ewe wisdom with Gen 18:1-16a, the paper seeks to explore through exegetical and intercultural study the value of hospitality within the Ewe and the Hebrew cultures to propose a re-conversion towards ‘hospitality’ for contemporary Ghanaian Christians.

Intragender Relationship of the Traditional Ilorin Women in Domestic Front: Lessons for Modern Muslim Women

Sherifat Hussain-Abubakar — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The traditional Ilorin society was renowned for peaceful coexistence among its people and decorum in the family domain. Families made Islamic principles their watchwords and the genders collaborated to ensure that marital obligations were efficiently performed. This paper focuses on the pattern of family management displayed by traditional Ilorin women to facilitate peaceful cohabitation and efficient performance, as wives and mothers. The study is historical and ethnographic, dwelling on the system’s pattern of orientation and integration of new wives, division of domestic chores, collaborative nurturing of children, fraternity system and disciplinary measures. The major instruments for data collection are interview, observation, documented studies and Islamic texts. The study revealed religious faithfulness as their inspiration and Islamic ethics of gentility, mutual support, collaboration among women cohered to channel the family course. These were borne out of sincere love and unity which translated into peace and harmony in the home and the society. The paper submits that if modern women can embrace this Islamic interactive etiquette and hold the marital duties in high esteem, as done by the traditional Ilorin women, there will be family cohesion, meaningful progress in the society