{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.016999260901699925, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 5.572815533980583, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Disruption of patriarchy in northern Islamic Nigeria

Abstract In northern Islamic Nigeria, prevailing traditions order society so that power is unequally distributed between the sexes. Almost all institutions and social processes in the region reproduce and exert the dominance of men over women, with existing dominance in the region rooted in Salafism. This is a version of Islam that rejects religious novelty and perpetuates the unequal distribution of power between men and women. My paper examines how activities promoting women empowerment destabilise the dominance by men as shaped by Salafist Islam in northern Isamic Nigeria. I used mixed research design for the study to tease out the interconnection of lived experiences, thoughts, and actions. Findings indicate that women empowerment activities of Oxfam, Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative, and post-secondary Hausa literature (Littattafan Soyayya, novels of love), challenge hegemonic imaginary of Salafism entrench in patriarchal dominance and the centrality of nature over culture. The paper concludes that women empowerment in northern Islamic Nigeria appeal to sensibilities of an ungendered pre-Salafist northern Nigeria where women were active, rational and public. Thus, patriarchy is open to disruption and change when shared indigenous values form the basis of women’s empowerment.