IMPACT OF ISLAM ON THE SOCIOCULTURAL LIFE OF THE PYAM PEOPLE OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Islam has long been known to be a religion of synthesis that has interacted with local cultures, enriching them and being enriched by them. It has impacted on African societies in various ways for almost a millennium, if not longer adding to the fabric of these cultures. The aim of this research work is to analyze the impact which Islam has made to the socio-cultural life of the Pyam people, and to build an Islamic cultural orientation among the Pyam people. This research restricts its area of coverage to Pyam land, in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The research design adopted for this research is survey, descriptive and historical. Most of the information has been gathered through oral interviews with the oldest community members. The research reveals that, some old forms and symbols of the Pyam socio-cultural system of life were discarded. Meanwhile, other sound aspects of their socio-cultural life are accommodated and reinforced in a new form of Islamic culture. Therefore, activities in Pyam land now continued to show the evidence of the impact of Islam on the Socio-Cultural Life of the Pyam people. The research concludes that, Islam is a true and divine instrument of positive change. When Islam is accepted as a religion and sincerely responded to its teachings, one will experience a complete change, spiritually, socially, politically and economically. The research recommends that, Muslims should respect and tolerate cultural heritage as long as that culture does not contradict the teachings of Islam, as practiced by the Prophet (S.A.W) and should be transformed from ethnic self-identity to Islamic self-identity.