WorldStage— The Sokoto State Hisbah Board has announced an immediate, comprehensive ban on several traditional wedding practices, social gatherings, and public behaviors.
Commander of the State Hisbah Board, Malam Usman Abdullahi Jatau, declared that these activities are “un-Islamic innovations” (bid’ah) that stray from the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad.
The directive aims to protect the state’s religious values, lower the financial burden of marriage, and curb moral decay.
The state Hisbah Board prohibited a wide range of social customs, including the traditional marriage introduction custom requiring suitors to gift items like soft drinks, water, biscuits, sweets, and kola nuts to the bride’s family.
It also banned the use of DJs and traditional Wazigidi music at wedding ceremonies, mixed-gender G
Gatherings, and joint male and female entertainment gatherings during wedding festivities.
Also banned is the extravagant bridal gifts (Lefe), by which excessive and competitive spending on the groom’s traditional gift boxes for the bride are hallmark.
Mounting loud speakers on tricycles (Keke Napep) and women sitting in the front passenger seat next to the rider as well as indecent hairstyles were equally banned, described by the board defines as improper or westernized haircuts among children and youths.
According to reports, the Hisbah command is implementing these measures to ease the process of marriage for younger couples and eliminate unnecessary debts.
Commander Jatau warned the public that this serves as a final notice, and Hisbah officials will actively intervene and issue sanctions to violators.
However, the policy has generated strong discourse on social platforms.
