PROMOTING ISLAMIC FINANCIAL LITERACY THROUGH INDIGENOUSPOETIC TRADITIONS: EVIDENCE FROM KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Low levels of Islamic financial literacy among Muslim communities in Nigeria continue to
hinder meaningful participation in Shariah-compliant financial services, despite the rapid
growth of Islamic finance globally. This study explores how Islamic poetry can serve as a
culturally resonant medium for promoting Islamic financial literacy in Kano State, Northern
Nigeria. Drawing on qualitative data from content analysis of 15 Islamic poems, 10 semistructured interviews with Islamic scholars and poets, and 4 focus group discussions
comprising 32 community members, the study examines how poetic traditions communicate key
Islamic financial principles such as the prohibition of Riba (interest), Halal investment, Zakat,
and Sadaqah. Findings reveal that Islamic poetry enhances emotional engagement, trust, and
retention of financial knowledge by embedding financial education within familiar religious
and cultural narratives. Participants emphasized poetry’s accessibility and mnemonic power,
particularly in contexts marked by low literacy and strong oral traditions. The study highlights
poetry’s potential scalability and cost-effectiveness as a financial education tool,
recommending its integration into Islamic microfinance programs, mosque sermons, and
community radio. The findings contribute to theories of culturally embedded communication
and diffusion of innovations, demonstrating that indigenous poetic traditions can effectively
advance Islamic financial inclusion in Northern Nigeria