The Sharia of Nigeria

A new democratic regime was elected in 1999. "The oil-rich Nigerian economy, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management, is undergoing substantial economic reform under the new civilian administration." (CIA World Factbook) However, the country's oil resources have not yet brought the economic prosperity which has been so longed for by the population.

Flag of Nigeria

Map of Nigeria

Muslim Legal Code in Nigeria

Within the short life of this new democratic national government, Governor Ahmed Sanni of Zamfara State (northern Nigeria) has declared the Muslim legal code (the sharia) as the legal system of his state. Several other northern states have also adopted the sharia. These measures have incited religious unrest, causing the death of several thousand people (Muslims and Christians). A north-south (Muslim-Christian) divide has developed, encouraging many southerners to flee the north. Islam in Nigeria is becoming aggressive, hostile and unrelenting in its efforts to gain control over the entire country. The "Christian" south does not seem to totally understand or appreciate the challenge which it is facing.

Pray for the Muslims in Nigeria:

* Conversions among the Hausa/Fulani (about 35 million people), the Kanuris (about 3.6 million) as well as the other Islamic tribes of northern Nigeria has been slow. Pray for breakthroughs.
Pray that the fear incited by the sharia will break down, allowing people to make responsible choices over their lives. Christians need to walk in love: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22)

* Ironically, sharia and its demands have brought an awakening in the Islamic north. Some people are finding reasons to pull out of Islam. Terrorism around the world has put Islam in bad light.
Pray that such factors will discourage more men and women from still holding on to Islam. Pray that they will begin a search for the true God.

* Though conversions in the north have been slow, they have been happening all the same. Sometimes, false brethren have been discovered infiltrating the churches, but there are genuine cases of Muslims converting to Christianity even from among the tribal royal families.
Pray for this to continue. Many disciples are being made in secret. Pray for the mission agencies and individuals concerned to have wisdom and grace.

* Some Nigerian Christians have put such an emphasis on prosperity that it has encouraged greed and very unChristian attitudes.
Pray for a revival in the Nigerian Church. May the sweet aroma of compassion stand out again as a distinct characteristic of the individual Christian. May Christians become as Jesus: "He went about doing good..." May their good works draw others to Christ.

* Pray especially for the Christians in the north of the country, that they may be strong and determined to live according to the will of God despite persecution and intimidation.

Background on Nigeria (World Factbook)

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has the largest population of any nation in Africa. It is geographically diverse and is divided into 36 states to accelerate development and to minimize the impact of ethnic loyalties on national politics. In general the country has a predominantly Muslim north and a non-Muslim, primarily Christian south. Nigeria has religious freedom, but in the past there are numerous examples of preferential treatment given to Islam.

Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The president faces the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, the OBASANJO administration must defuse longstanding ethnic and religious tensions, if it is to build a sound foundation for economic growth and political stability. Although the April 2003 elections were marred by some irregularities, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. In January 2010, Nigeria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2010-11 term.

Economy of Nigeria

Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic management, is undertaking some reforms under a new reform-minded administration. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth - Nigeria is Africa's most populous country - and the country, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food.

Statistics on Nigeria

Population: 155,215,573 -- See note below (July 2011 est.). World Rank #8

Life Expectancy at Birth: 47.56 years. World Rank #220

Ethnic groups: Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%

Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani

Literacy: 68% male: 75.7% female: 60.6%

School Life Expectancy: 9 years

Population Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

A Week in Nigeria - Video

Lynn and two others travel to Lagos, Nigeria to help with prostitutes, HIV patients, and orphans.

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Historically, the nomadic Fulani centred their lives around cattle; times have changed. Some Fulani have abandoned herding and are now even fishermen! Others are educated, urban dwellers who have little or nothing to do with cattle. The vast majority of the Fulani in Nigeria are no longer nomadic. The Fulani described below are mostly the rural Mbororo Fulani of Nigeria. Fulani trace their origins to this type of pastoral lifestyle. Fulani households consist of a male leader, one or more wives, six to 12 or more children and other family members.

Morning:

The adults awaken for Islamic prayers about 4:30 a.m. The men spend the morning milking their cows and preparing to pasture them in the bush. The women prepare a meal, consisting of a corn mush with meatless gravy, eaten about 10:30 a.m.

Midday and Afternoon:

After eating, the younger men go into the bush with their cows. A typical family will have 10 to 100 cows, as well as sheep and goats. The young men keep their cows out of fenced areas and farms and help them find forage and water. Older men may go to town or visit their friends. During planting and harvesting, some men work hard tending their crops. The women often carry the milk to town in gourds to sell. They also collect firewood and carry the day’s water for their families.

Evening:

In late afternoon the cows return and are tied up for the night. The family eats their evening meal at about 8:00 p.m. They chat around their fires until an early bedtime. Women, children and older men usually sleep in huts while the teenagers often sleep outdoors.

Flag of Nigeria

Map of Nigeria

While the Jesus film and gospel portions have been put into the Fulani language (Fulfulde), there are still very few Christians who are reaching out to this people. Even so, God has done marvelous things in bringing some Fulani to himself. See the www.morethandreams.tv site for an example.

Prayer Starters for Nigerian Fulani

• Pray for laborers. There simply are not enough Messianic believers proclaiming the Good News to the Fulani.
• Ask the Lord to touch Fulani leaders and imams that they may become obedient to the Lord Jesus (Acts 6:7).
• Pray for increased understanding among the followers of Jesus and Muslims in Nigeria. Peacemaking and repairing the decades of strife and civil unrest between Muslims and those who follow Jesus is a major necessity.

Video: Sights and Sounds of Nigeria (5:41)

Nigeria from David Tuchman on Vimeo.

Cut from 4.5 hours of footage from a mission trip.

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| · Regional population 2,675,000
| · Tribal religions: 5%
| · Protestants: 17%
| · Catholics: 32%
| · Muslims: 42%
| · Others: 2%

Mosques spring up like mushrooms in Cameroon

During the late 1990s, several Muslim "missionaries" have become very active in the city of Maroua and the surrounding region. Through the efforts of Muslim businessmen, other local mosques and foreign financing (especially from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan), new mosques have sprung up like mushrooms. In recent years one can even find mosques in villages where there may be only ten Muslims. People who formerly called themselves Christians have embraced Islam. Some Muslims are receiving training on how to lead Christians into Islam. A number of young Christians are being influenced to continue their studies in Muslim countries through various scholarships. These scholarship programmes are often linked to efforts eventually to persuade Christian students to become Muslims. Several Muslim groups are encouraging the installation of Islamic law (sharia) in the northern part of Cameroon.

It takes the goat in Cameroon

Despite all this, there are some Christians in the Maroua region who continue to evangelise Muslims. God is also at work through them, leading Muslims to faith in Christ. During the month of Ramadan in 2002, God permitted a goat in a rural area to be involved in introducing a Muslim couple to the gospel. The goat arrived unexpectedly at the home of a Christian woman: it refused to leave despite repeated and determined efforts to drive it away. After several days the Christian lady decided to look for the family who had lost its goat. While visiting various neighbours, she eventually found the goat's Muslim owner. This woman readily expressed her thanks that the goat had been returned and invited the Christian lady for a meal. A friendship sprang up between the two women and their families. It was in this way that this entire Muslim family (husband, wife and two children) received the gospel.

Flag of Cameroon

Map of Cameroon

It should be noted that a recent translation of the 30-Days Muslim Prayer booklet was done in the Maroua area. The booklet was translated from French into Fulfulde, the language of the local Fulani Christians.

Prayer for Cameroon:

* Pray that Muslim efforts to implant Islam more strongly in the Maroua district would be frustrated.

* Pray that the Christians in the region will have a unified vision to bring the Good News to their Muslim neighbours. Thank God for the general solidarity which is evident among God's servants in the area.

* Pray for the evangelists (possibly numbering as many as 20) who are already working in the Maroua district. May God strengthen them and bless their efforts.

* Pray for God's protection and strength on the home groups that are springing up in the area.

* Pray for those who are discipling the new converts. They often face opposition: may God strengthen them.

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Zealous Muslims among the Fulani

The Fulani have followed Islam for seven centuries, and helped to spread Islam across much of West Africa. They became zealous Muslims, and from 1750 to 1900 engaged in many holy wars in the name of Islam. During the first part of the 19th century the Fulani carved out two important empires based in Massina (Mali) and in Sokoto (Nigeria). Among educated Fulani, there are many noted Islamic scholars and teachers. While the urbanized and more affluent Fulani are generally the most orthodox in their beliefs, the great majority of the Fulani mix superstition and animistic beliefs with Islam.

The Fulani have a long history as cattle herdsmen. To be a Fulani meant to be a cattle owner. The more cattle a man owns, the more respect he is given. However, due to increasing hardships including famine, drought and poverty, some Fulani no longer own cattle. Even so a majority still own at least a small number of animals, whether a cherished cow, sheep or goats. Often, those that do not own animals will work as herdsmen for others.

Persecution among the Fulani

The Wodaabe Fulani (pop: 180,000) of Eastern Niger are among the pure nomadic herders. They seek to find pasture for their herds just south of the Sahara Desert. Some are being forced to find other means of support. However, for most Wodaabe to farm is a rejection of their heritage. The Jelgooji of Eastern Burkina Faso have also clung to the tradition of herding more tenaciously than many other groups, yet they tend to be more semi-nomadic.

In some areas, Fulani who have become Christians have experienced no negative repercussions from family or community members. More often though, decisions to follow Christ have been met with harsh persecution. There are currently no more than a few thousand Fulani Christians - much less than 1% of the total population. Less than 10% of the Fulani have heard the Gospel.

Prayer Guide for the Fulani

* Most Fulani simply need to hear the Gospel in a fashion which is culturally sensitive, relevant and understandable.

* Pray for missionary Bible story telling efforts to this largely illiterate people. Story telling is an art. Missionaries need inspiration, linguistic ability and perseverance to be effective in proclaiming the Gospel in this manner.

* Pray for the various humanitarian and development efforts taking place among the Fulani.

* May the Lord raise up Fulani disciples who can take the Gospel to their own people. They will need faith, perseverance, hope and real love to make this happen (1 Corinthians 13:13, Romans 15:4).

Special Note

God is really answering prayers as we Fulanis have been taking the Gospel to our people and we are seeing fruits to the glory of God. Fulani Ministries' work: www.fulaniministries.org is an example of Fulanis responding to God's grace in sharing the Gospel to other Fulanis in sub-Saharan Africa. Remain blessed. Romans 10:12-15

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| · 936,269,259 million people or about 14% of the world's population live in 61 countries and territories throughout Africa.

Pray with us for these African countries. Muslims represent 41.3% of the population in Africa, growing at a rate of 2.5% per year (mainly as a result of having large families). Islam first spread from the Middle East to North Africa and then eventually towards the south. Islam is predominantly concentrated in North and Northeast Africa. For example, out of the 78 million people in the three nations of Northwest Africa (Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco), possibly only 50,000 are native believers in the Messiah. On our site you will see we have broken Africa down by region, Central (about 15 percent Muslim), East (about 29 percent Muslim), North (probably 89% Muslim), Southern (between 1 and 2 percent Muslim) and West Africa (about 54 percent Muslim).

Although we hear of many miracles and wonderful things happening in Africa there is also great persecution among many African Christians. As gulf-oil dollars help spread Islam we hear of many believers who become secret believers. Families often disown members who turn to the Messiah, confiscating their possessions. In some cases there are brutal beatings and even deaths as the type of Islam coming into Africa gets more dogmatic and controlling.

You can also search our site for Muslim People Groups such as: Beja, Dioula, Fulani, Gorane, Gypsies, Harar, Juba Arabs, Kabyle, Lebou, Maba, Myab, Nubian, Saharawi, Saho, Songhai, Soninke, Souss Berbers, Teda, Toucouleur, Tuaregs, Tuareg in Sahara, Worodougou, Yao and so forth.

External Links and Sources:

• Mapping the Global Muslim Population (Pew Research Forum)
• World Fact Book (CIA)
• Muslim Population Worldwide
• The Largest Muslim Communities
• Global Status of Evangelical Christianity Unengaged Unreached People Groups
• Unreached Ethnic People Group Listings (Joshua Project)
• and Wikipedia has several good links, maps and resources + World Religions: Britannica Book of the Year, ©2003

To Download:

• Global Status of Evangelical Christianity Unengaged Unreached Muslim People Groups 100,000 or more (xls file saved via MS Excel, 380 kb)
• 2010 World Muslim Population compiled by Houssain Kettani at the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities. 61 pages of interesting statistics on Muslim countries and the demographics of Muslim growth. (pdf, 788 kb)

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