Christian translations of the Qur'an into Yoruba and their historical background

Solihu, Abdul Kabir Hussain and Abdulhameed, Abdulganiy Akorede (2015) Christian translations of the Qur'an into Yoruba and their historical background. Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, 26 (4). pp. 465-481. ISSN 0959-6410 (P) 1469-9311 (O)

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Abstract

This study considers the emergence of the Christian-led Yoruba translations of the Qur'an in south-western Nigeria. The proliferation of translations of religious texts played a significant role in Christian engagement with Islam in Africa in the nineteenth century. With their contact with the European Christians in Sierra Leone following the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, a sizable number of Yoruba recaptives returned to Yorubaland as missionaries and embarked on translating religious texts into the Yoruba language as part of Christian mission. In 1906, the Reverend M. S. Cole published the first Yoruba translation of the Qur'an, which was also the first translation into an African language. In 1965, E. K. Akinlade published the second Yoruba translation of the Qur'an. This article relates the Christian-led Yoruba translations to a larger scheme of the Christian missionary engagement with Islam and the Yoruba Muslims on a scriptural basis, which was inaugurated by Bishop Crowther in the second half of the nineteenth century. It examines the theological bases and historical circumstances that led to the publication of the early Yoruba translation of the Qur'an. The article then provides an overview of the works in an attempt to identify their aid materials and the motives for the translations.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	4608/45876
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Christian mission; translation of the Qur’an; M. S. Cole; E. K. Akinlade; Samuel Crowther; recaptive; Yoruba
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP100 Sacred books > BP130 Works about the Qurʼān B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP169 Works against Islam and the Qur'an B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP171 Relation of Islam to other religions
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of General Studies
Depositing User:	Dr. Abdul Kabir Hussain Solihu
Date Deposited:	30 Nov 2015 15:42
Last Modified:	08 Aug 2017 15:21
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/45876

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