The heritage of Islam: women, religion, and politics in West Africa

This treatise on the role of Islam and its impact on women in western Africa is developed in seven chapters. Topics include the role of religion in shaping or reflecting society the Islamic encounter the socialization and subordination of women attitudes towards women and womens educational status womens employment in the formal and informal sectors the political empowerment of women and changes in Islam affecting the status of women. The discussion focuses on Nigeria and Senegal and illustrates the different impacts of Islam on women. The submission and exclusion of Islamic women in northern Nigeria is dramatic. In Senegal women are not veiled or secluded and engage in farming. Northern Nigeria has 50 million Muslims one of the largest Muslim populations in Africa. These Muslims are of Hausa/Fulani ethnicity which is the largest ethnic subgroup in Africa and Nigeria. Islamic women have the influence but not the power to compel decisions or behavior. Examined are the interaction between religion culture and state policy; perceptions about the nature of power; and the changing status of women. Because both countries rely on patriarchal systems it is difficult to separate out the influences of state and religion. State governments differ between the two countries. Nigeria represents a more theocratic Muslim society within a secular state and Senegal represents a secular Muslim society. It is argued that both the French and British colonists limited the influence of Islam and colonialism on indigenous culture. Islam encourages the education of women within religion. Islamic women in Senegal interact with men directly which allows for greater respect by men in business transactions. The authors conclude that the advancement of Islamic women will progress differently from non-Islamic women and depend upon the efforts of Islamically committed women who challenge fundamentalism.