Strengthening Islamic Acculturation through Yoruba Islam and Ebeg Performance Culture in Nigeria and Indonesia

Background: Islamic acculturation is a dynamic process through which Islamic teachings interact with local traditions, producing diverse forms of lived religious expression. Yoruba Islam in Nigeria and the Ebeg performance tradition in Indonesia represent localized expressions of Islam shaped by distinct historical and cultural contexts. Comparative studies connecting African and Southeast Asian Muslim cultural experiences, however, remain limited.

Methods: This study employs a qualitative comparative approach using literature-based cultural analysis. Data were collected from peer-reviewed articles, ethnographic studies, historical records, and cultural documentation related to Yoruba Islam and Ebeg performance traditions. The analysis focuses on cultural adaptation, religious negotiation, and performative integration.

Results: The findings reveal that Yoruba Islam demonstrates strong cultural embeddedness through the integration of Islamic values into festivals, naming systems, kinship practices, and communal rituals. In contrast, the Ebeg tradition reflects a selective and negotiated form of acculturation in which Islamic elements are incorporated into dance, music, and ritual performance. Both cases indicate that Islamic identity is shaped through continuous interaction between religion and local culture.

Discussion: The comparative analysis shows that Islamic acculturation is historically adaptive and context-dependent. Material and performative culture function as important mediums for negotiating religious meaning and communal identity.

Conclusion: Islamic acculturation in Nigeria and Indonesia represents a non-linear process shaped by cultural continuity, reinterpretation, and social negotiation.

Novelty: This study offers a comparative African–Southeast Asian perspective by highlighting the role of material and performance culture in shaping localized Islamic experience.