ISLAM AND ETHNIC ASSIMILATION; A STUDY OF YORUBA MUSLIMS IN TALATA-MAFARA AND KAURA-NAMODA EMIRATES (1945-2015)

Abstract

Abstract This study examined Islam and ethnic assimilation among the Yoruba Muslims with particular reference to Talata Mafara and Kaura Namoda Emirates in the present Zamfara State. Islam which means submission to the “Will of Allah” has been playing a spectacular role in the relationship between Yoruba Muslim settlers in Talata Mafara and Kaura Namoda with their Hausa host communities since when the people identified themselves or lived together as neighbours. The Yoruba Muslims relation was encouraged by the receptive nature of the Hausa host communities and later metamorphosed into Islamic brotherhood as enjoined by the Glorious Qur’an. By 20th century, many Yoruba people, predominantly Muslims, have settled in Hausaland, andwere strongly influenced by British colonial conquest of Hausaland in 1903. This influx in consequence was precipitated by the emerging capitalist economic system which opened up northern Nigeria to many people to work in colonial enterprises as paid labourers. This, in addition, led to ethnic assimilation as Islam remains the only common religion to both the host and the Yoruba Muslim settlers. It may be interesting to construe that the extension of railway line to Hausaland viz: Kaduna in 1912, and Kano and Kaura Namoda in 1913 eased people’s movement from Yorubaland to the study areas. Above all, this study servesas a way of curbing the menace of ethnic chauvinism and conflict in Kaura Namoda and Talata Mafara areas of Zamfara State.