Abstract
Research on Islamic education in Africa has focused on the core curriculum of elementary Qur'anic school – that is, the memorisation, recitation, reading, and writing of the Qur'an without explanation of the literal meaning of the sacred text. Taking a language socialisation perspective, I examine the Qur'anic school sermon as practiced by Fulbe in northern Cameroon. I situate the practice by providing an overview of the Qur'anic school tradition in this community and of the sociolinguistic context in which Fulbe children are being schooled. I then present discourse analysis of a sermon, showing how the activity provides children with instruction in proper Muslim conduct and feeling, as well as Qur'anic Arabic text that is glossed in Fulfulde and connected to their daily lives. I conclude by discussing Qur'anic school sermons as routine activities in which children learn to engage with the Qur'an and other Arabic texts as language that they can comprehend and use in ways that are socially and culturally appropriate in their community.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
