The Maitatsine movement

Maitatsine Maitatsine, whose real name was Mohammed Marwa was born in Nigeria. He began preaching in Kano, Nigeria in 1945 but was exiled by the British Colonial government when he began to cause trouble because of his opposition of the Nigerian state. While preaching Islam, he claimed to be a prophet. He preached against possession of any excess money and was also notable for his disapproval of the Western culture, education, and technology. Him and his followers refused to mix with other Muslims, living in their own enclave, and it did not take long before their practices conflicted with the authorities. DAVIE( US & THEM MENTALITY…ISLANDS OF CERTAINTY)

Who followed Maitatsine? Marwa’s followers were young, poor men, particularly former seasonal laborers economically displaced by the oil boom as well as petty merchants and youths seeking Islamic education. (RELATE HERE TO MARX/ ALIENATION/ DURKHEIM/ ANOMIE) Prior to the oil boom, the urban poor were regarded as worthy heirs of Islamic charity; against the backdrop of economic they were looked at as hooligans and thieves. Thus, the socially and economically marginalized were receptive to Marwa’s anti-government message and exclusivist religious outlook.

What was the Maitatsine riots? The Maitatsine riots were a series of violent uprisings prompted by Islamist militants in northern Nigeria between 1980 and 1985. It became northern Nigeria’s first major wave of religiously-inspired violence.

What triggered the riots? Given the international attention to global terrorism, the fundamentalist groups could receive motivation, material, and ideological support or influence from a global jihadist movement. Unresolved national issues, including the weak economy, weak security and intelligence apparatuses, and the failure to define what the national culture and identity is, are critical factors that caused the riots.

The first Maitatsine riots The first riot broke out on December 18, 1980 in Kano and resulted in 4,000 deaths (including Marwa). Numerous other riots took place between 1980 and 1985, killing or injuring thousands of northern Muslims and Christians.