Arabic Nasheeds and Their Role in Islamic Youth Culture in Kebbi State

Islamic nasheeds, vocal musical compositions in Arabic or vernacular languages drawing on Quranic themes and prophetic traditions, have become an increasingly prominent feature of Islamic youth culture across Nigeria, serving simultaneously as entertainment, religious education, and identity performance. This study examines the role of Arabic nasheeds in the Islamic youth culture of Kebbi State, investigating the content, production, consumption, and perceived social functions of nasheed culture among Muslim youth aged 15 to 30. Using a qualitative cultural studies approach, the research collects data through focus group discussions with 60 young Muslims across Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, and Zuru, supplemented by content analysis of 25 popular Arabic nasheed recordings circulating on social media platforms within the community. Interviews with five nasheed composers and three Islamic youth group leaders provide producer perspectives. The study finds that Arabic nasheeds serve as a vehicle for informal Arabic vocabulary and phraseology acquisition, functioning as a gateway to Arabic literary aesthetics for youth with limited formal Arabic education. Nasheeds are also found to articulate Islamic youth identity and provide a socially legitimated form of artistic expression within religiously conservative community norms. The findings have implications for informal Arabic language education programme design. Keywords: Arabic nasheeds, Islamic youth culture, Kebbi State, identity, informal language learning.