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Paper short abstract:

This study investigates the popular religious culture in Kano by examining the practice and performances of the Tijānī Society of Zakirai in Kano and its surroundings. To achieve this goal, the research employs anthropological methods, including participant observation and interviews.

Paper long abstract:

The story of anthropology of religion in Kano is a virgin land to which scholars do not appear to have directed attention, however slightly. Even though. the ancient city has attracted a good number of works from historians and anthropologists, hardly has any one of such writers considered it worthwhile to cast even a cursory glance at Tijānī Society of Zakirai and aspect of their popular religious practice and performance within and outside the city. Even John N. Paden, Andrea Brigaglia, Ousmane Kane and Abdalla Uba Adamu who wrote extensively on political and religious popular culture in Kano, have not treated this subject, beyond mentioning some Zakirai here and there in some of their writings. This observation is not however meant to put any slur on the splendid and meritorious works of these scholars on the political and religious popular culture in Kano. Rather, it is aimed at calling attention to the dearth of written records on the anthropology of religion in Kano and its environs. This research, therefore, explores the anthropological dimensions of Sufi religious popular culture in Africa, with a specific focus on the Tijānī Society of Zakirai in Kano, Nigeria. Anthropological methodologies, including participant observation, interviews, and archival research, are employed to document the rituals, ceremonies, and everyday practices associated with the Tijānī Society of Zakirai in Kano and its environs for the purpose of studying Tijānī Society of Zakirai and aspect of their popular religious practice and performance within and outside the city of Kano.