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Paper short abstract:

The presentation will discuss the Sufi poetry in 20th Century Nigeria and how it different from the mainstream Sufi poetry in the east, and how African context shape its form and functions.

Paper long abstract:

The themes of Rūmi's self-realization, Ibn al-Fārid's divine love, and Ibn 'Arabi's longing typically come to mind for Western scholars discussing Sufi poetry. Yet, when the term 'Africa' is introduced into our title, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, the expectations shift. Panegyrics, devotional intercession, and even talismanic studies may take precedence in our exploration. Given that some scholars perceive African Islamic poetry as lacking philosophical depth, a fundamental question arises: Does African identity and culture play a role in reshaping the trajectory of Sufi poetry, fostering a cultural dialogue between Islam and African identity that leads to the adoption of an African Sufi model? To address this inquiry, my paper will analyze the poetry of Tijani, a prominent scholar in 20th-century Nigeria Sheykh Abū Bakr Atiƙu Sanka (d.1974), to identify the main themes and their functions within West African society.

The analysis will concentrate on three prevalent themes in African poetry: Madīh, intercession, and Talismanic asrār. The central argument in my presentation posits that, despite lacking profound philosophical insights, Sufi poetry in Africa retains its essence derived from the East. However, it undergoes a transformation in terms of its "functionality", exhibiting a new dimension that is seldom observed in Middle Eastern societies.