Same Mosque, Different Gods — And Me Caught in the Middle

About this episode

The episode discusses the perceived superiority of Hausa Muslims over Yoruba Muslims and explores cultural and educational differences between the two groups.

My new Instagram handle is @thekoredeazeez I’d heard that Hausa Muslims think they’re better than Yoruba Muslims. But I only experienced it when I went to NYSC camp in Abuja. This (bad) attitude is likely rooted in history. Islam did reach the North before it trickled down to the South West. But honestly, claiming superiority because of the convenience of geography and timing comes off as childish. I hate to imagine what would have happened if Islam actually originated in Northern Nigeria. There are other issues as well, like the Hausa-Fulani prioritising Arabic education over what they call “Western” education while the Yorubas combine both. Apparently, “Western” education is supposed to be some sort of a stain. And of course, Yorubas are known for taking education seriously. And when you're educated, you're exposed to different people, different systems, different ways of thinking. You become more tolerant. It's really that simple. Finally, Yorubas haven’t diluted their culture like the Hausa-Fulani have. Many of us have kept our names, dress, and customs, blending them with Islam instead of total erosion as we can see on the Hausa-Fulani side. Heck, it’s hard to find Hausas…

Topics covered

• Hausa Muslims
• Yoruba Muslims
• Islam
• education
• cultural identity

Keywords

• identity
• mindset
• womanhood
• cultural differences
• Islamic education

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Abuja, North, the South West, Northern Nigeria

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