Ramadan Night Sermon by Shaykh AbdulRaheem Ameenullahi Oniwasi Agbaye: The Making of an Image

Abstract

Wasi (also spelled waasi) is a Yoruba Islamic sermon in which oniwasi (admonisher) communicates religious injunctions during religious or social occasions. A hallmark of the Yoruba Muslims’ cultural identity and an important vocation for Muslim scholars, particularly during the fasting month of Ramadan, wasi is conducted to remind the faithful of their obligations to their religion and teach them lessons on religious matters. Shaykh AbdulRaheem Ameenullahi Oniwasi Agbaye (d. 2012) was a celebrated oniwasi in Ilorin and among the Yoruba Muslim communities in Nigeria and abroad. This study examines the Ramadan night sermons delivered by him between the period of 1955 and 2012. Following the content analysis of sampled wasi video recordings, interviews and participant observation, the study explores the historical development of night sermon at the Ilorin Central Mosque, the wasi circles Shaykh Oniwasi Agbaye benefitted from, the values he championed and the contributions he made to the enduring legacy of wasi tradition.