Da‘Wah Activities: A Century of Imamship in Igbemo-Ekiti from Imām Sanusi Bada to Abdullah Junaid: 1880-2004

Abstract

This article is on Da‘wah activities: a century of Imamship in Igbemo-Ekiti from Imām Sanusi Bada to Abdullah Junaid: 1880-2024.  It examines the transformative power of Da‘wah activities in shaping Islamic identity, promoting community cohesion, and fostering social change. This study sheds light on the achievements, challenges, and lessons learnt from a century of Islamic leadership and outreach in the town, its immediate environment, as well as entire Yoruba land. From the first Imām to the fourth Imām, the work is historical in nature. Hence, the method used is purely descriptive analysis. Data were gathered through oral interviews and written documents. The theoretical framework for the work based on several keys that are relevant to the study of Islamic missionary work and the evolution of religious leadership within a specific community over time. Social movement theory was used to analyze the roles of Imāms while Religious Leadership theory focused on the role of religious leaders within a community, and how they influence the beliefs, behaviors, and practices of their followers. Critical discourse analysis was applied to study the language and rhetoric used by the Imām in their preaching and Da‘wah activities. These theoretical perspectives helped to contextualize the historical and socio-political factors that shaped the development of Islamic missionary work in the town. It also shed light on the enduring legacy of these influential religious leaders. Findings show that Igbemo-Ekiti had long history of Islam and Islamic scholarship from inception till date. The outcome of this work suggests that the current crop of the scholars and clerics in the town should not deviate from path of their forerunners’.