Muslim Men in Jigawa State
on Lucy Kennedy (Nigeria), 24/Mar/2011 16:33, 34 days ago
•Every morning when the men greet they shake hands very enthusiastically and pat each other on the back. You may still find them shaking hands five minutes later.•If a joke is told, you must shake hands very hard with the person who told the joke or anyone next to you.•Men wear very long (down to their ankles) kaftans or shirts, usually in a light colour, that they hitch up when they sit down. This must be accompanied by a cap to be seen as respectable.•You can easily find men and boys dressed in pink or purple or wearing very flowery prints!•Men are not allowed to shake hands with women.•Men do not eat with women.•It is very common to see men walking down the streets holding hands! (But never a male and female holding hands.) Females too walk about holding hands with each other.•In Kano some men lead a workshop for female teachers. They are not allowed to sit at the tables with the females. They cannot even stand in the circle with them when teaching them a game.•Muslim men can have up to 4 wives. It is very important for them to treat each wife equally.•It is common for Muslim men not to let their wives leave the house unless it is an emergency, for example, to visit the hospital.•It is the man’s job to shop in the market to buy food and supplies.•Men are the ‘masters of the house.’ They are in charge of everything.•Men never cook.•They love to hold babies and young children, even if not their own.