THE ECONOMICS OF MAWLID FESTIVALS IN KANO CITY 1940s-2020

Abstract

While Mawlid festivals have attracted substantial scholarly attention for their theological, cultural and political dimensions, their economic implications remain insufficiently examined, particularly within urban West African contexts. Focusing on Kano City, Nigeria, this article investigates the economic impact of Mawlid festivals in a setting where informal enterprises and small-scale businesses dominate the local economy. The study addresses a critical gap in the literature by foregrounding the material and economic dimensions of religious celebration, thereby expanding prevailing interpretations of Mawlid as primarily devotional or cultural phenomena. Employing a qualitative research methodology, the study draws on in-depth interviews, participant observation and documentary analysis to assess the festivals’ influence on local trade, employment generation, tourism-related services, religious consumption practices and patterns of urban economic circulation. The findings demonstrate that Mawlid festivals function as seasonal economic accelerators, stimulating commercial transactions, enhancing income opportunities for informal sector actors and reinforcing networks of religious patronage and philanthropy. Beyond their spiritual significance, these festivals operate as structured sites of economic production, redistribution and social capital formation. The article argues that Mawlid celebrations in Kano exemplify the embeddedness of religious practice within urban economic system. By situating religious festivals within the framework of cultural economy and informal urbanism, the study contributes to broader debates on religion and development in Africa. It also advances understanding of how devotional practices shape local economic resilience.