The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and governors of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Zamfara states will join Islamic scholars from across the world to attend a conference on ‘History of Islamic Learning and Scholarship in Africa.’
The director of Arewa House, Dr. Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, who disclosed this in Kaduna Friday, said the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, would also grace the three-day conference scheduled for June 13 to 15, 2023.
According to hi, it’s organised by Arewa House in conjunction with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; International Research Center for Islamic History, Culture and Arts (IRCICA), Turkey, and Al Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano.
He said, “The introduction of Islam in Africa since the 9th century has greatly contributed to the formation and development of early centrifugal states as well as evolution of a solid tradition of learning and scholarship within the continent. Learning and scholarship had become the most important legacy of Islam, especially in the area of Arabic and Qur’anic science.
“However, despite the existence of various writings on the multiple aspects of the history of Islam in Africa, there have been minimal attempts to systematically engage the changing dynamics of Islamic scholarship in the history of Africa. In view of this, we invite well researched papers that offer critical reflections on the history of learning and Islamic scholarship in Africa.
“The opening ceremonies will be officiated by His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, HRH, the Emir of Zazzau, and the Emir of Kano, the governors of Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Zamfara states among other dignitaries. For the technical session, 30 speakers are expected to attend and present papers. We have speakers from the USA, Canada, Britain, Kenya, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Egypt, South Africa, Cameroon, Middle East and Central America.
“The conference offers a rare opportunity for scholars across different disciplines to meet, deliberate and rethink their understanding of the nature and dynamics of Islamic learning and scholarship in Africa.”
