Thirteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

It is trite that the average African, and indeed the Nigerian, lives with a consciousness of his religion. This is influenced not only by the culture and traditions of the people, but also by westernization and also the country’s colonial heritage. This in turn influences other aspects of the country’s polity. Over the years, these religions- Christianity, Islam and Traditionalism- have grown in more ways than one to accommodate the socioeconomic rights of the woman in the society. In Nigeria, women are no longer considered or treated as a ‘property’, but can now exercise their rights to own properties as a natural human beings. Women can also vote and be voted for. In essence, the rights of women in Nigeria are now well cemented in Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered) and other domestic legislations. Regardless of these statutory provisions, however, women are still subjected and confined to the background under Islamic-customary law. This paper shall focus on Ede Township in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria as case study. The choice is inspired by the fact that Ede is a predominantly Muslim community. This study makes use of qualitative and quantitative research methods- secondary materials from the library and statistics from the customary courts in the town are used in this study. This study is part of growing research into the rights of women in Africa, particularly under customary African law.