Allo kafi gida
Book Description
Antoine Lema unveils a hidden world of spiritual artistry in this remarkable exploration of the Hausa people's secret Quranic writing boards from northern Nigeria. These mysterious wooden panels, known as allo kafii gida, represent a fascinating intersection of Islamic devotion and indigenous cosmological wisdom that has remained largely concealed from the outside world.
The boards featured in this collection carry profound spiritual significance, serving as both religious artifacts and repositories of ancient Hausa understanding about cosmic connections. Their creators functioned as spiritual storytellers, weaving together Islamic teachings with traditional cosmological concepts from distant lands, creating what Lema describes as "cosmological time capsules" preserved on wood.
The secrecy surrounding these artifacts stems from their precarious position within strict Islamic contexts, where their decorative elements and symbolic content have sometimes placed their owners at serious risk. This tension between religious devotion and cultural expression reveals the complex spiritual landscape these communities navigate.
Through twenty years of dedicated research, Lema presents these rare artifacts as windows into a unique synthesis of spiritual traditions. The book offers readers insight into how different cultures blend sacred practices while maintaining their distinct cosmological perspectives. For those interested in understanding how spiritual traditions adapt and merge across cultures, this collection provides a compelling glimpse into the hidden spiritual artistry of the Hausa people.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)
📄 Length: 223 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Islamic art objects
- ✓ Explore Education
- ✓ Explore Hausa (African people)
- ✓ Explore Pictorial works
- ✓ Explore Hausa Art
- ✓ Explore Islamic art and symbolism
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Study and teaching
