Yan Taru

The Yan Taru movement was started by Nana Asma'u dan Fodio in 1838 with the purpose of empowering and educating women in the then Sokoto Caliphate. The movement survived the death of its founder, end of the Caliphate and Colonialism in Nigeria still existing today.

With the establishment of the Caliphate in 1808, Shaikh Uthman dan Fodio made educating the women of his new state a priority. Coming from a Fulani background, he was raised by educated women as his Mother and Grandmother were learned. In Fulbe families, the teaching of Islamic studies to young children was tasked on the women. The Shaikh encouraged women to attend lectures of preachers and scholars. However, it was over two decades after his death would his daughter Nana Asma'u start her own movement for educating women.[1]

  1. ^ Boyd, Jean; Last, Murray (1985). "The Role of Women as "Agents Religieux" in Sokoto". Canadian Journal of African Studies. 19 (2): 283–300. doi:10.2307/484826. ISSN 0008-3968. JSTOR 484826.