ABSTRACT
This study aimed at bringing out the influences of
traditions and culture of Ebira people on the practice of Islam in Ebiraland.
It was observed that Islam was resisted by the pagans of Ebiraland, but
eventually accepted it through peaceful means that condoned the practice of
both systems together. This is because the traditions of Ebiraland such as
belief in masquerade, Ori festival, divination with rosary, reincarnation and
witchcraft have some influence in the life of some Muslims in Ebiraland; hence
the mixing of Islam and traditional practices of Ebira people become common
among most Muslims, especially in their marriage and aspects of faith. The
study was limited to the five local government areas located in the central
senatorial district of Kogi State. Survey design method was used where a
proportional stratified sampling method was used for the percentage sampling
fraction. A Questionnaire was designed and administered to both scholars and
Muslim traditionalists. 430 respondents were randomly selected. Five (5) Null
hypothesis and (5) research questions were formulated and analysed at 0.05
alpha level of significance using Wilcoxon sign rank test computing hypothesis
one, while spearman rank order correlation test computing hypothesis Two -
Five. The result of the findings revealed that there is a relationship existing
between religious ignorance and prevalence of tradition and culture in Ebiraland,
which has tremendous influence on their religious practices. Similarly, there
is lack of perfect comprehension of the knowledge of Tauhid and Islamic
teachings, as well as inability to distinguish Islamic tradition from that of
Ebira culture and tradition. Hence, the research suggested the establishment of
religious institutions and organisations that are fully acquainted with the
misleading traditions and cultures of Ebiraland to evolve a training guide for
the youths, old males and females through the true and perfect teachings of
Islam. The research also suggested modification in the existing mode of
preaching and teaching of Islam in the area of study.
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the Study
In the name of Allah, the Most
Beneficent, the Most Merciful. All thanks be to Allah who revealed the Qur‟an,
the ultimate guidance, for the entire mankind. May His peace and blessings be
upon the seal of the Prophets, Muhammad (S.A.W), who demonstrated the perfect
way of life. In the same vein, may the Almighty Allah be pleased with the
companions of the Prophet (SAW) and members of his family who sincerely
delivered the trust of the religion to generations after them.
Islam is a
religion which encompasses all that man requires. Therefore, the religion
demands total submission to the dictates of the Shari‟ah. The person who
willingly and sincerely submits to the wills of Allah is known as a Muslim. The
religion of Islam is not only concerned with the spiritual aspect of man, but
also it covers all aspects that are required in the life of mankind. Notwithstanding,
the religion accepts and assimilates other cultures, that conform to its
religious belief system and moral values. Those cultures that are not in line
with the moral teachings of Islam or not in touch with the belief system of
Islam are totally rejected. This is in line with the following Qur‟anic
instruction.
﮳
﮲ﮱ ﮰﮯﮮﮭ ﮻﮺ ﮹ ﮸﮷﮶﮵﮴
٨٠٣ :ةرقبلا﮼
O you who believe! Enter
perfectly in Islâm (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islâmic
religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). Verily! He is to you
a plain enemy. (Q:2:208)
Islam
spread to Ebiraland in early 1856. Ebira people are majorly divided into
three dialects, (Ebira Opete, Ebira Etuno and Ebira Koto) but they have a
common culture which is not separated from their system of
belief. (Abdullahi 2013 and Shaibu 2013). Thus, the strong attachment of Ebira
people to their culture could be a factor responsible for the difficulty in
separating their cultures from religious practices after embracing Islam. This
attitude therefore has adverse effects on their religious faith and moral
values. In view of this, this research is designed to study the extent of the
influence of traditional practices in the religious practice of the Ebira
people.
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
The religion of Islam comprises
detail guides to all that affect man‟s life in this world and in the hereafter.
This could be the simple reason why the religion demands its followers to be
strict about obeying the religious injunctions in all matters affecting their
lives. Similarly, the religion is not silent in exposing all that could ruin
the faith, health, personality and other aspects of man‟s development. However,
in spite of the number of years that Islam has been in existence in Ebiraland,
their unguided cultures and traditions are still upheld and have negative
impact on their religious and mundane affairs as Muslims. This trend has
continued to the extent that some learned Muslims in the contemporary time
appeared to be silent and hence turn away from the fact that the people are
heading to the wrong direction. On the other hand, some Muslim scholars decided
to overlook or compromise with some misleading traditional practices in Ebira
land. Therefore, some Muslims consider no religious implication in mingling
their marriage practices with tradition and culture of Ebiraland, and Christian
method of marriage. The cause of this may be attributed to many factors. Of
course, it is quite disheartening for a Muslim to uphold an unguided culture at
the expense of the teachings of the true religion. Many would observe that such
attitude could be as a result of ignorance about the beauty of the Islamic way
of life or because of the inevitable nature of their culture and traditions, or
it may be attributed to the misconception or misappropriation of the Islamic
objectives. If this misguided behaviour therefore, is not addressed, what would be the fate of other Islamic
devotional exercises since Islam demands total submission? These issues made it
necessary to undertake this research to enlighten and guide people to the
proper Islamic practices.
1.3 Objectives
of the Study
The
study has the following as its objectives:
i.
To examine the nature of the
traditions and cultures of Ebiraland in the light of Islam
ii.
To evaluate the extent of the
influence of cultures and traditions of Ebiraland on the lives of
Muslims.
iii.
To assess the factors that are
responsible for the promotion of the traditions and cultures of Ebiraland
among the Muslims
iv.
To appraise the implications of the
cultures and traditions of Ebiraland on the Islamic faith of the
Muslims.
v.
To proffer solutions in the light of
Shari‟ah to the effect of cultures and traditions of Ebiraland on the
lives of Muslims.
1.4 Research
Questions
i.
What is the nature of the traditions
and cultures of Ebiraland in relation to Islamic view?
ii.
To what extent do the cultures and
traditions of Ebiraland affect the lives of the Muslims?
iii.
What are the factors that are
responsible for the promotion of traditions and cultures of Ebiraland
among the Muslims?
iv.
What are the implication of these
influences of the traditions and cultures of Ebiraland on the Islamic
faith of the Muslims?
v.
What are the possible solutions from
the Islamic guides to the effects of the traditions and cultures of Ebiraland
on the lives of Muslims?
1.5 Hypotheses
i.
There is no significant difference
between the culture and tradition of Ebira people and Islamic cultures
and tradition.
ii.
There is no significant relationship
between traditions and cultures of Ebira people and the religious practices
of the Muslims in Ebiraland.
iii.
There is no significant relationship
between religious ignorance and the prevalence of tradition and cultures of Ebira
people among the Muslims
iv.
There is no significant relationship
between upholding the traditions and cultures of Ebira people with the
prevalence of evil and crime among them.
v.
There is no significant relationship
between shari‟ah percepts on addressing effects of traditions and culture of
Ebiraland.
1.6 Significance
of the Study
The essence of the Islamic faith lies in the conviction and
submission of a person to the injunctions of Shar‟iah. Thus, one of the
principal issues which Islam aims at destroying is every culture that promotes
immorality, as well as it displays the capacity of destroying religious faith.
Certainly, some of the cultures and traditions of Ebiraland either promote
immorality or ungodly attitude. In view of this, any research that stands to
expose those cultures and traditions that are responsible for the deterioration or decline in
Islamic faith, with a view to providing solutions, is of great significance not
only in safeguarding the faith of the Muslims from alien pollutions, but also
in promoting the spirit of faith as well as encouraging others to accept the
religion of Islam. This of course would serve as a means by which the attitude
of the Muslims would concentrate on the guidance of Islam and hence the
prevalent evils and crimes in Ebiraland would be brought to an end or
minimized. These changes will therefore provide the environment with security,
and ensure peaceful co-existence among people, and hence making all development
plans to come to fruition.
1.7 Scope
Delimitation of the Study
The research revolves around
the nature and the influence of cultures and traditions of Ebiraland on
the lives of the Muslims. The study therefore is restricted to Ebira people who
are situated in several states of Nigeria, but predominantly covers the
whole of Kogi central senatorial district and Kogi local
government boundaries with the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa State
and Edo State. The research revolves around Ebiraland and is
restricted to Ebira Tao who are found in five local government areas:
Okene, Adavi, Okehi, Ajaokuta and Ogori-Magongo.
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