Dr. Oludamini Ogunnaike - Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection: The West African Madih Tradition

Arabic poetry in praise of the prophet is by far the most popular form of literature in Muslim West Africa in both composition and performance. This talk will provide an introduction to the history, functions, forms, and spiritual significance of this rich tradition. Oludamini Ogunnaike is an Assistant Professor of African Religious Thought and Democracy at the University of Virginia specializing in the intellectual and aesthetic dimensions of West African Sufism and Yoruba oriṣa traditions. He received his PhD in African and African American studies and Religion at Harvard University and his A.B. in African Studies and Cognitive Neuroscience from Harvard College. He is the author of Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection: A Study of West African Madīḥ Poetry and its Precedents (Islamic Texts Society, 2020) and Deep Knowledge: Ways of Knowing in Sufism and Ifa, Two West African Intellectual Traditions (PSU Press, 2020). He is currently working on two new book projects: The Logic of the Birds: Sufi Poetry and Poetic Knowledge and Introducing Africana Philosophy (under contract with Equinox Press). This event was organized by the AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies at George Mason’s Fairfax Campus on March 27, 2023 If you would like to be informed about the Center programs, please subscribe to the ACGIS mailing list at the following link: gmu.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=363affc885e5927d7734f38bc&id=6abb26ce76