Abstract:
Gender has become a central issue in world discourse. It is more so in
Islam because there is a general perception that the theology of Islam is
built on gender injustice. The Dagomba people of Ghana converted to
Islam in droves after the conversion of their King, Naa Zangina in about
1700. Since then, Islam has become the state religion of the Dagomba
people and all their customs and traditions have become underpinned by
Islam, including the negotiation of gender. There is a palpable gender
imbalance in Dagomba life and thought. But what factor(s) account for this
gender imbalance? This study therefore sought to investigate and to find
out the extent to which Islam is or is not responsible for the male-female
dynamics in Dagbon. In doing this, a qualitative method of data collection
was employed. Questionnaires were administered, in-depth interviews
were conducted and focus group discussions were held. The descriptive
research design was also used to interpret the primary data that was
collected. It was found out that gender relations in Dagbon are heavily
biased in favour of men. The Afanema, who are the guardians of Islamic
lore, teach a theology of Islam that purports to subjugate women. This
theology has become accepted norm. However, a few women are
beginning to find their voices and to challenge male dominance. This
research recommends that more women take up the role of mufassirs
(interpreters of the Qur’an) in order to balance the male centered
interpretations that pervade the society. Education is also a leveler and
tends to give people a voice. If more girls would be educated, it would contribute to a greater awareness of the fact that more feminine voices can
only contribute to the development of the society rather than retard it.
