SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF FODILATUS SHEIKH ALHAJI MUHAMMAD IBN MUHAMMAD MEJINYAWA (BABA TAPA)
Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdullahi muhammad Mejinyawa popularly called ‘’BABA TAPA” was born in Cameroon as his father was residing there as at his time of birth. The actual year of his birth could not be ascertained as there was no proper documentation during the time but what was obvious is that he lived above "Qorinu" that means a century.
He was born to Mallam Abdullahi and Nana AIsha . His father was from Etsu Saba royal family of Bida, Niger State. Young Mejinyawa relocated with his grandfather when he was deposed as Etsu Nupe to Lokoja where he started Al-Qur'an and other rudimentary aspects of Islamic education under the tutelage Mallam Ahmadu Bako.
When he graduated from elementary Arabic school, he proceeded to Alkali school in Kano. He was sponsored by Etsu Bakudu the then reigning Etsu of Nupe. After graduation, his maternal grandmother insisted he should not become an Alkali (local Islamic jurist ) because of the popular believe that Allah only should be the judge and that he could be exposed to danger.
He later furthered his Arabic education under Sheikh Sheriff Zangina who taught him advanced aspects of Islamic education such as Fiqh ,Tafsir and was also introduced to the path of Tijanniyah.
Sheikh Muhammad Mejinyawa was taken to Sheikh Ibrahim Inyas in Senegal by Sheikh Yusuf Lokoja who trained him on the path of Tijanniyah and exposed him to the in-depth of spirituality.He followed Sheikh Ibrahim to Morroco and Iraq.
He later followed his Uncle Baba Gana to Ghana, and some other parts of West Africa on several trading trips where they sold groundnuts and kolanuts. He lived in several parts of Nigeria like Onitsha, Ilesha,Sapele, Warri before he moved to Emure-Ekiti where he worked as an Arabic teacher with Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria.
He was later invited by his friend Alhaji Ibrahim Kulumbu who was living in Ogbomoso to assist Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola in his political travails where he lived until his death.
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Good job .....
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