Further light on the diffusion of Arabic literary scholarship in Yorubaland, south-western Nigeria

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Periodical article

Title:	Further light on the diffusion of Arabic literary scholarship in Yorubaland, south-western Nigeria
Author:	Folorunsho, Mikail Adebisi
Year:	2011
Periodical:	Journal of Oriental and African Studies
Volume:	20
Pages:	117-130
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Nigeria
Subjects:	Arabic language ulema language instruction
Abstract:	The city of Ikirun, in Yorubaland, Nigeria, has been described mainly as a fortress of the Ibadan army against the incursion of Fulani warriors in the 19th century. Little attention has been paid to the role of Ikirun ulama in the diffusion of Arabic literary scholarship in Yorubaland. This article first outlines the arrival of Islam in Yorubaland and then examines the development of Arabic scholarship in four phases: the era of seeking instruction (1887-1936), the era of consolidation (1936-1965), the era of lethargy (1966-1990), and the era of efflorescence (1991 onwards). A survey of the literary production of Ikirun ulama indicates that their works are mainly in verse and generally comply with the modern norms of Arabic writing. Notes, ref., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]