“The African Legend and Scholar: Sheikh Othman bin Fodi” by Ali bin Ghanem Al-Hajri
Amidst a growing thirst for the history of West African Religion and culture, especially in the Arab world, Ali bin Ghanem Al-Hajri cut across thousands of miles to fill this knowledge void in his groundbreaking book titled “The African Legend and Scholar: Sheikh Othman bin Fodi” written on the most prominent Islamic figure in West Africa Othman bin Fodi.
The Qatari writer, aided by his skill in narrating historical events, gave a meticulous account of the life of Sheikh Othman bin Fodi for readers who have little or no knowledge about this personality, delving through his impacts in the intellectual, cultural, political and social spheres which are still evident particularly in Nigeria and West Africa in General.
Out of Al-Hajri’s belief that “the history of the African continent — with the exception of North Africa — is still one of the things that are historically still unknown to Muslims in the Arab world,” he brought the personality of this political and religious figure closer to the distant Arab world. The author’s ability to unearth information from primary sources in the course of writing the book is outrightly praiseworthy.
From teaching to establishing one of the greatest kingdoms in West Africa, Othman bin Fodi is truly the legend of Africa. Despite the fact the African continent has produced various kingdoms, scholars, thinkers, and leaders, the history of Bin Fodi, as written by Al-Hajri, will surely leave the reader admiring the unmatched accomplishments of this legend in all aspects of life.
Out of Al-Hajri’s belief that “the history of the African continent — with the exception of North Africa — is still one of the things that are historically still unknown to Muslims in the Arab world,” he brought the personality of this political and religious figure closer to the distant Arab world. The author’s ability to unearth information from primary sources in the course of writing the book is outrightly praiseworthy.
From teaching to establishing one of the greatest kingdoms in West Africa, Othman bin Fodi is truly the legend of Africa. Despite the fact the African continent has produced various kingdoms, scholars, thinkers, and leaders, the history of Bin Fodi, as written by Al-Hajri, will surely leave the reader admiring the unmatched accomplishments of this legend in all aspects of life.
