The impending execution of Nigerian Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, and the role of Religion in Music
A musician in Nigeria’s northern state of Kano, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, has been sentenced to death by hanging for blaspheming against the Prophet Muhammad.
Those baying for his blood said the song was blasphemous as it praised an imam from the Tijaniya Muslim brotherhood to the extent it elevated him above the Prophet Muhammad.
He composed a song and shared via WhatsApp, but went into hiding when violent reprisals – which included angry mobs burning down his family house and demanding Sharia action against him – broke out across his residential region of Kano state, northern Nigeria.
Music is one of the most creative expressions of existence, so it is expected that our experiences, our innermost thoughts of pride, love, angst, worry, heartbreak and philosophies can and will be set to song.
There are songs based on the most mundane aspects of human existence to the most profound. Political stirrings and calls to action were bravely sung by the likes of Fela and Miriam Makeba.
Sam Cooke sang about “Twistin’ The Night Away” in one breath while plaintively believing that “A Change Gon’ Come” in the next.
It is no surprise that religion plays a substantial part in music and vice versa. It is music that differentiates the orchestral strands of Handel’s Messiah from the ardent worship of Sinach’s Waymaker. It is a religion that transformed a German Beer Hall tune into Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress”.
The Church has given us Handel, Bach, Whitney Houston, Fantasia, Deborah Fraser and Nathaniel Bassey, to name a few. Apart from the religious conviction that births this religious music, there is no doubt that there is, and possibly will always be, a market for praising God.
What is less accepted and more likely to draw ire, however, is blasphemy or condemnation as Mr Sharif-Aminu is finding out.
This execution, if carried through, might create a worrying narrative for Nigeria. It is unbalanced that release murderers, Boko Haram insurgents, and terrorists back into the general population after a short stint in a ‘rehabilitation centre’ but will string a man up for this. It is worthy of note, however, that Nigerians have taken to social media in their thousands to wholly condemn this judgement, stating in no uncertain terms that there is no punishment for blasphemy in the Qur’an.
While there is a strong possibility that Sharif-Aminu may appeal and have the sentence overturned (only one execution sentence has been carried out since the introduction of Sharia Law), it is not encouraging that officials like Bashir Ahmed who hold influential positions hold these acts of murder above the reckless bloodshed in the land and their failing of the Nigerian people.
Kano state government will treat Sharif-Aminu’s case and his life as they see fit. While we hope that they do so with mercy, we also hope that they enhance the lives of their citizens with the same zeal.
Lastly, stay up to date with all you need to know about African music at SOA, right here.
The impending execution of Nigerian Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, and the role of Religion in Music
