Popularizing Islamic Knowledge through Oral Epic: A Malian Bard in a Media Age

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 367-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Zappa
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Informal Economy ◽  
West African ◽  
Multiple Roles ◽  
Complex Relationship ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Verbal Art ◽  
Religious Knowledge ◽  
Superior Knowledge ◽  
Epistemological Model

AbstractThis article explores a rather understudied feature of West African oral epics, namely its role as a channel for the transmission and popularization of Islamic religious knowledge. The documentary basis of analysis is provided by a set of oral texts performed in the Bambara language by a Malian griot (i.e. a member of an endogamous bards' lineage) and marketed in audiotape recorded form through the channels of local informal economy. Special attention is devoted to the multiple roles played by the bard in his complex relationship to Islamic knowledge. In spite of his abundant references to learned, sometimes even esoteric doctrines in texts appealing to a broad, undifferentiated audience, at a closer look the main goal of his popularizing attitude appears to be the reassertion of the legitimacy of traditionally trained local scholars and religious leaders, acting as his patrons, through a compelling magnification of their superior knowledge. What is at stake is precisely the defence of a locally rooted epistemological model against the challenges coming from Islamic reformers who promote alternative (and more rationalising) understandings of religious knowledge and authority. Seizing the new opportunities offered by the mediatization of his verbal art, the griot engages effectively in the religious debates that animate an increasingly globalised national public sphere.

scholarly journals AUTORITA’ AND AUTOREVOLEZZA: EXPLAINING CONTESTATIONS BETWEEN POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE AGE OF THE NEW MEDIA

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-38
Author(s):  
Walter C. Ihejirika
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
The State ◽  
Political Connection ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Material Wealth ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Public Sphere

In many African countries, since the nineties, there is a subtle contest going on between religious and political leaders. At the heart of this contest is what Rosalind Hackett described as the redefinition of the categories of power and status, which cease to be primarily tied to material wealth or political connection, but rather to spiritual authority and revelation. This is a struggle for the hegemonic control of the society in the Gramscian sense of the term. While political leaders may use the coercive arms of the state – military might as well as their control of the financial resources of the state to impose their authority, religious leaders on the other hand assume the posture of moral icons, personalities endowed with superior knowledge based on divine revelation. As these contestations are played out in the public sphere, the way the leaders are able to portray themselves to their public will determine their followership. This explains the importance of mediation in the process of politico-religious contestations. In the eyes of the public, political leaders have the physical or raw power - the Italian concept of autorita; while the religious leaders have the moral power - autorevolezza. This paper uses these concepts as metaphors to present a general explanation of how the contestation between religious and political leaders plays out in the public sphere of the new media

scholarly journals Agama Sebagai Transpormasi Sosial

EL-Ghiroh ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
EKO NOPRIYANSA
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
Social Problem ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Harmonious Society ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Intellectual Community ◽  
The Public ◽  
Great Responsibility ◽  
The Public Sphere

Seems that the position of intellectual community gets its own attention to the public because by knowing it is expected to be able to convey an objective and neutral view in providing views on a social problem. Therefore intellectuals are characterized by their ability to respond critically to social problems through discussion or writing in the public sphere. In a wider social context, important roles as well as having the main potential in correcting social problems include religious leaders, pioneers, and intellectuals, where they have a great responsibility for a harmonious society both in religion and more in the state.

scholarly journals Strategi Lembaga Takmir Masjid Nahdlatul Ulama (LTM NU) Temanggung Dalam Mencegah Radikalisme Agama

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamidulloh Ibda ◽  
Khamim Saifuddin
Keyword(s):  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Religious Knowledge ◽  
Family Culture ◽  
Program Support ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Nahdlatul Ulama ◽  
Religious Radicalism ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Autonomous Agency ◽  
The Impact

The background of this research is the potential for religious radicalism in mosques in Temanggung Regency. They are a radical group that has several ways to control the mosque. This article describes the strategy of the Mosque Organizers Institution Nahdlatul Ulama (LTM NU) of Temanggung in preventing religious radicalism in the mosque. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection methods namely interviews and observations. The results of the study stated that there were several strategies carried out by LTM NU of Temanggung in preventing radicalism. First, strengthening the management of mosque takmir refers to Aswaja Annahdliyah’s Islamic values. Second, revitalization of idarah, imarah, and ri’ayah management. Third, revamping the management structure of the mosque. Fourth, mobilizing the spirit of religious leaders to strengthen moderate Islamic studies. Fifth, the movement of NU coins (koin NU) in the mosque. Sixth, assisting the mosque when there are problems or not. Seventh, synergy between the Autonomous Agency (Banom) and institutions under NU. Eighth, the mosque’s clean movement. Ninth, identify local lector who are preachers at the mosque. There are several challenges and opportunities in implementing the strategy. The first challenge is the low understanding of the organizational management of mosque takmir. Second, limited religious knowledge from the mosque manager. Third, the structure of Aswaja Annahdliyah teachings has not been structured. Fourth, the massive offer of radical Islamic activities in NU mosques. Fifth, the doctrine is strong about the strategy of mastering mosques from radical groups. Sixth, infiltration of individuals / radical Islamic organizations. Seventh, the strong funding from abroad in the construction of mosques. The opportunity, first is the strong family culture in the community. Second, awareness of the dangers of radicalism. Third, the dominance of NU residents in the mosque’s takmir structure. Fourth, the massive implementation of mosque takmir training. Fifth, the existence of Islamic religious instructors in the villages dominated by NU residents. Sixth, the implementation of the competition for destitution management. Seventh, program support from autonomous body (Banom) / NU institutions. The impact of this strategy to prevent religious radicalism gave birth to the awareness of takmir officials to guard mosques from radical groups. While in the short term, the management of the mosque takmir is set up to 90 percent of the total mosques that have joined LTM NU Temanggung, and there are dozens of mosques that will join LTM NU of Temanggung.

scholarly journals STRATEGI PENANGGULANGAN KENAKALAN REMAJA DI KELURAHAN BELAWA KECAMATAN BELAWA KABUPATEN WAJO

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-115
Author(s):  
Najia Angraini ◽  
Ramli Ramli ◽  
Zulfah Fakhruddin
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Delinquency ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Religious Knowledge ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Many ◽  
Community Access

The many problems faced in life that cause a lot of negative access that is very troubling to the community. Access is, among others, increasingly widespread irregularities in the norms of religious and social life that are manifested in the form of juvenile delinquency. The purpose of this study was to find out what forms of juvenile delinquency occurred in Belawa Village, Belawa District, Wajo District. Knowing what strategies are used to overcome juvenile delinquency in Belawa Village, Belawa District, Wajo Regency. Then find out how the influence of juvenile delinquency strategies carried out by the government of Belawa Village, Belawa District, Wajo Regency. This research method uses a qualitative descriptive approach and in data collection using the method of observation, interviews, observing and documentation. As for the data analysis technique used is an inductive analysis technique, meaning that the data obtained in the field is specifically described in words that draw conclusions are general. The results of the study are related to juvenile delinquency coping strategies in Belawa Village, Belawa District, Wajo Regency, namely: (1) Forms of juvenile delinquency that occur in Belawa Village include: racing and recklessness, using glue (fox glue), drinking oplosan ( komix), drinking liquor and drugs (2) The strategy carried out by the police in collaboration with the government of Belawa Village, religious leaders, and the community, including: counseling / socialization, patrolling, raids to sellers, parental attention, planting religious knowledge (3) Efforts to overcome juvenile delinquency committed by the government of Belawa Village, religious leaders, and parents have been maximized. Actions that are preventive ineffective, repressive have been effective and curative have been effective enough to overcome juvenile delinquency.  

Of Clerics and Concubines

2019 ◽  
pp. 258-312
Author(s):  
Michael A. Gomez
Keyword(s):  
New Age ◽  
West African ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
African History ◽  
Critical Component ◽  
Ethnic Pluralism ◽  
Scant Attention ◽  
To Come ◽  
Significant Figures ◽  
Secondary Materials

This chapter argues that while the religious leaders of Timbuktu and Jenne enjoyed unrivaled prestige, there were other actors who, though receiving scant attention in the secondary materials, were nonetheless significant figures. Specifically, holy men associated with the Mori Koyra community played influential roles, as did royal women, including, and especially, the royal concubines. Indeed, women were a critical component of the askia's strategy in realizing an ethnic pluralism that would transform relations between the clan and the state, such that loyalties to the former could be accommodated within the latter. Buoyed by a resurgent economy, stellar scholarship, and the reconfiguration of political fealty, Songhay experienced a new age of cosmopolitanism. With so many accomplishments, it is little wonder Askia Muḥammad is revered as one of the most important leaders in West African history, his policies a template for Muslim reformers for centuries to come.

Amos and ‘Ghana in the Eyes of God’: a Public Theological Response to Bribery and Corruption

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-300
Author(s):  
Patrick Kofi Amissah
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Independent Judiciary ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Miscarriage Of Justice

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to draw upon the condemnation of bribery, corruption and miscarriage of justice to be found in the book of Amos for the sake of a public theology. The occasion for such is a bribery scandal that hit the Ghanaian judiciary. An investigative journalist presented evidence to substantiate the hitherto unsubstantiated perception that some judges in Ghana take bribes to skew judgement. The scandal is deepened through many of the judges being Christian. They attracted widespread criticism from religious leaders, both Christian and others, as well as from the wider society. The public sphere of a fair and independent judiciary was thus compromised. The argument draws upon an assessment of Amos 5:7; 10, 12 and 6:12. These texts are examined in the light of this judicial bribery and corruption scandal and thus provide an example of how the Bible can play a part in a public theology and nurture of social justice.

Children's Street Work in Urban Nigeria as Adaptation and Maladaptation to Changing Socioeconomic Circumstances

1993 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice Adenike Oloko
Keyword(s):  
West African ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Collective Orientation ◽  
Street Trading ◽  
The Social ◽  
Traditional Societies ◽  
Trading Activities ◽  
Fundamental Value ◽  
Different Parts

One fundamental value of the modern societies in which schools endogenously emerged is self-orientation. This contrasts with the familistic collectivism that has been identified as providing a basis for the social structure of traditional societies such as Nigeria. An important strategy of child socialisation in Nigeria and other West African countries is responsibility training. One of the objectives of the investigations reported in this article was to determine the extent to which an aspect of responsibility training, namely children's street-trading activities, typifies a collective orientation and the extent to which it was consonant with schooling, which largely promotes a self-orientation. The data consist of interviews with: (1) 2000 children from different parts of Nigeria, both traders and nontraders; (2) 100 of the children's teachers; (3) 224 women traders; and (4) 117 experts (such as doctors, social welfare officers, policemen, and religious leaders) who, in their professional roles, interact with young street traders. It is concluded that: (1) street trading had some value-compatibility with schooling in the early stages of the modernisation process in Nigeria, but that it has become maladaptive as a result of both changes in the conditions of trading and changes in the system of school assessment; and (2) early childhood working experience, as exemplified in street trading, may constitute one of the important mechanisms by which the traditional value of familistic collectivism is maintained and the self-orientation inculcated by prolonged schooling is reduced.

scholarly journals Potret Pendidikan Islam di Pamekasan Madura (Peran KH. Ahmad Madani dalam Pendidikan dan Pengembangan Masyarakat di Ponpes Sumber Bungur Pamekasan Madura 1960-2006)

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sholeh
Keyword(s):  
Common Knowledge ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Boarding School ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Religious Knowledge ◽  
Historical Method ◽  
Biographical Approach ◽  
The 1960S

<p>This study describes the role of KH. Ahmad Madani in education and community development at boarding school of Sumber Bungur. The method used in this study is the historical method, which uses a biographical approach. Biographical approach is an approach that seeks to understand and deepen keperibadian (figures) based on the background of the cultural social environment in which the character was raised, how the education process is experienced, the characters that are around him. The technique of data collection is by literature study and interview. The author collects data related to the discussion that will the author do. Data collected from interviews, books, journals, theses, internet and articles. The writer then criticized the source that has been obtained, which then performed data analysis and taken conclusions. The results of this study is Ahmad Madani is a pioneer and a figure who care about the education system in Madura, especially in Pakong Pamekasan District. From his ideas, around the 1960s, he was able to integrate both educational systems by establishing his own schools where religious knowledge and common knowledge were taught, although at the beginning of his pioneering many societies and even religious leaders considered KH. Ahmad Madani has continued the heritage and culture of Dutch clones, by incorporating the general materials into the educational institution he pioneered. Whereas the general matter is a subject matter brought by westerners whose connotation is that the western man is a Gentile.</p><p><strong>Keywords : Pesantren Education, Education in Ponpes Sumber Bungur.</strong></p>

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