East african muslims are mostly shafiites and some. Article is composed of three parts, which 1how islam spread into subsaharan region of west africa, and the great civilizations it established there, taking its inhabitants out of paganism to the worship of one god. Since the religion was introduced to the continent in the 7th century, it has spread extensively and the continent today is home to nearly onethird of the muslim population in the world. Th e report then zooms in on east africa, where the three religious families of traditional religion, islam and christianity are all present in large numbers. Trade and commerce paved the way for the introduction of new. Christianity correlates with each of the four development targets specified for women empowerment under the third of the millennium development goals mdgs, including. Education in west africa education around the world emefa.
This influence, which i view as an ongoing effect that went through. In geographical terms, islam occupies the center of the world, stretching like a big belt across the globe from east to west. Three religions, indigenous african, islam and christianity, comprising africas triple heritage, are considered. Muslims crossed current djibouti and somalia to seek refuge in presentday eritrea and ethiopia during the hijrah arabic. The origin and growth of islam on the african continent. The spread of islam in ancient africa ancient history. From the precolonial to the modern day toyin falola and tyler fleming encyclopedia of life support systems eolss and along the swahili coastline of east africa, vast trade networks developed. It is largely a plateau of modest elevation and borders the sahara desert on the. Spread of islam in west africa all parts the religion. Margari hill, stanford university january 2009 available in pdf format 1. At times, this broad designation introduces errors, as in discussions of islam, which was not found in west central africa at all.
Africa was the first continent, outside of arabia that islam spread into in the early 7th century. Our focus is primarily on the west african and sa helian. This conference will examine those issues but place them within a. Academic works on the history, growth and development of christianity in africa. In this way, islam spread across and around the sahara. Many christians and muslims in subsaharan africa describe members of the other faith as tolerant and honest.
Yet, the dissemination of islam in africa by first arabs and then african muslims, and the role that islam and muslims have played in the development of africa, are essential to a balanced and accurate understanding of african history. This paper was submitted to my ancient and precolonial africa class at carleton university ottawa, canada on november 26, 2012. Trade and commerce paved the way for the introduction of. On the other hand, in east africa, where islam came from the arabian peninsula, muslims followed the shafli school of law that prevailed in arabia. How islam spread into subsaharan region of west africa, and the great civilizations it established there, taking its inhabitants out of paganism to the worship of one god. Regrettably, according to a recent report of the new partnership for africas development nepad, nine countries in subsaharan africa rank among the seventeen most corrupt countries in the world nepad planning and coordinating agency et al. Written by regional experts, the book explores the education systems of benin, burkina faso, cameroon, cape verde, chad, the gambia, ghana, guinea, guineabissau, ivory coast, liberia, mali, mauritania, niger, nigeria, senegal, sierra leone and togo. African christianity african studies oxford bibliographies. By showing in meticulous detail the enduring and unwavering commitments of african muslims to islamic education while providing persuasive. As for the political aspect many islamic states rose and fell, in the time period of and 1750 c. At first, muslim traders and merchants lived side by side with the nonmuslims of west africa. More precision is necessary than frey and wood allow.
Western impact on africas economic development and the progress of democracy jiaxu liu iowa state university. The king had so much authority that once he converted to islam, he ordered all the idols to be broken down in his kingdom. Western influence has had a major impact on economic development and the progress of democracy in africa. Morabit scholars, attributed to morabit government in north africa, developed islam in west africa during the 12th century nequla. Mansa suleyman followed his path and encouraged the building of mosques, as well as the development of islamic learning. The swahili language remains central to many east african muslims, hence the occasionally heard phrase, swahili islam. Globalization is the process of achieving greater interdependence among countries and their citizens.
They were the first negro people who accepted islam. This book is a major contribution to the social, political and intellectual history of the largest colonial state in africa, the french west african federation. The history of islam in east africa stretches back to around ce. In the seventh century, islam entered africa from the northeast corner. Christianity and islam also coexist with each other. Almost onethird of the worlds muslim population resides in the continent. Impact of islam on west africa islam impacted west africa in many ways. Understanding islam, its history in ghana, and an effective. Islam has gained more converts in africa than has christianity, which labors under the burden of identification with european imperialism. The cultural economic and political impact of islam on.
Almost onethird of the worlds muslim population resides in this continent. Western africa western africa the islamic revolution in the western sudan. There are five main reason islamic cultures spread. From morocco to mindanao, it encompasses countries of both the consumer north and the disadvantaged south. In the 11th century, muslims from the north, the almoravids, invaded west africa. In west africa, the three great medieval empires of ghana, mali, and the songhay developed in sahel. Transsaharan trade brought islam to west africa in the 8th century. The impact of religion on women empowerment as a millennium. The growth of islam in west africa 255 the jihadist movements 257 islam in west africa today 261 conclusions 261 chapter 10 first contact. Africa was the first continent, that islam spread into out of arabia in the early seventh century. Mar 18, 2011 the study examines the impact of religion on women empowerment. The most important connection that islam made globally was the establishment of. On the other side of africa, there was an alternative model of civilizational development. Christianity correlates with each of the four development targets specified for women empowerment under the third of the millennium development goals.
It changed the peoples views of their rulers, and in some people, even the way they viewed the world. Africa, christianity, civilizations, colonialism, imperialism, independence, islam, sahara, transatlantic slave trade. It contains a lot of brief, yet informative articles. Jun 27, 2018 beginning in the early 7th century, the spread of islam began with the life of prophet muhammad continuing until his death in 632. From the precolonial to the modern day toyin falola and tyler fleming department of history, university of texas at austin, usa. Part of theafrican languages and societies commons,african studies commons,economics commons, and thepolitical science commons. Academic works on the history, growth and development of. Western africa the islamic revolution in the western sudan.
While the presence of islam in west africa dates back to eighth century, the spread of the faith in regions that are now the modern states of senegal, gambia, guinea, burkina faso, niger, mali and nigeria, was in actuality, a gradual and complex process. The history of islam in west africa can be explained in three stages, containment, mixing, and reform. Globalization and sustainable development in africa on jstor. This conference will examine those issues but place them within a much broader. The history of islam in africa facts about the muslims. The cultural economic and political impact of islam on west. May 10, 2019 following the conquest of north africa by muslim arabs in the 7th century ce, islam spread throughout west africa via merchants, traders, scholars, and missionaries, that is largely through peaceful means whereby african rulers either tolerated the religion or converted to it themselves. Sep 19, 20 impact of islam on west africa islam impacted west africa in many ways. Spencer trimingham, a history of islam in west africa, 233. Africas contribution to european capitalist development the precolonial period 3.
The history of west africa has been commonly divided into its prehistory, the iron age in africa, the major polities flourishing, the colonial period, and finally the postindependence era, in which the current nations were formed. I conclude that africa will need three forms of international support. The eastern coast of africa saw the rise of swahili civilisation which was not an empire or a kingdom but a collection of city states like zanzibar and mombasa and mogadishu. An example of this is the west african king al musulmani. The study examines the impact of religion on women empowerment. This text by a notable scholar of both christianity and islam concentrates on the religious dimensions of west african christianity and the roles of both missionaries and africans in its spread and development. Africa was the first continent into which islam spread from southwest asia, during the early 7th century ce. Spread of islam in west africa all parts the religion of. Beginning in the early 7th century, the spread of islam began with the life of prophet muhammad continuing until his death in 632. This was followed by the establishment of several great islamic institutes in west africa such as timbuktu, gene, gao, kanem. Islam reached the savannah region in the 8th century c.
How europe underdeveloped africa abahlali basemjondolo. Consequently, from there islam began to head towards the west africa, being carried out by the berber merchants and by missionaries until islam finally occupied the whole region of west africa. The spread of islam in west africa from the 1 ith century on took the form of. It sits at the crossroads of america, europe, and russia on one side and black africa, india, and china on the. Spreading of islam without any violence in central, east. For the first time in a single volume, the history of islam in africa presents a detailed historic mapping of the cultural, political, geographic, and religious past of this significant presence on a continentwide scale.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Islamic education in africa indiana university press. Other aspects stayed the same, like the beliefs of the pagan people and how they lived. Education in west africa is a comprehensive critical reference guide to education in the region. Radical islam radical islam is a global phenomenon, generated by the uncontrolled dissemination of extremist ideology, supported by vast private wealth in the gulf, the use of which is not subject to scrutiny. Education in west africa education around the world. Islamic education in africa makes a significant contribution not only to our understandings of islam in africa but also to the broader study of how islam is learned and woven into the fabric of society. Until the mid20th century, it remained largely confined to the coast and closely bound up with the history of the swahili towns situated on it. In conclusion, islam impacted west africa greatly by increasing trade, and blending its culture with west african culture. They were the main core of sufism in africa and they established zavaya in different parts of africa and propagated islam there.
During muhammads lifetime a group of muslims escaped meccan persecution 615 by fleeing to ethiopia, where the negus king gave them protection. Western impact on africas economic development and the. The histom1 ofls1am il1 africa ohio university press. The famous scholar ibn munabbah wrote as early as 738 c. Sep 21, 2017 islam enjoys a dominant presence in states situated in west africa, north africa, the swahili coast, and the horn of africa.
The history of the islamic faith on the continent of africa spans fourteen centuries. Security threats facing africa and its capacity to respond. The region may be divided into several broad physiographic regions. Doc impact of islam in western africa prior to 1500 a. Islam reaches west africa, and a history of the islamic empire of ghana. Over time, however, islam played a growing role in west african society. Traders bring islam to ghana between the years 639 and 708 c. The history of islam in africa ohio university press. While the presence of islam in west africa dates back to eighth century, the.
Spread of islam in africa javad haghnavaz department of islamic thoughts faculty, jolfa branch, islamic azad university, jolfa, iran abstract. It is said of sunni ali that he tried to compromise between paganism and islam although he prayed and fasted. France and islam in west africa, 18601960 by christopher. Pdf islam and west african anthropology researchgate. Bringing together two dozen leading scholars, this comprehensive work treats the. The europeans arrive 265 portugal in west african history 265 the coastalization of the europeans 269 early christian missionaries 276 portugals decline and social upheaval 276. Designations employed in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the african. The northern portion of western africa is composed of a broad band of semiarid terrain, called the western sudan, stretching from the atlantic ocean on the west to the area of lake chad on the east, a distance of about 2,500 miles 4,000 km. The influence of islamic values and ideas on indigenous african.
Pdf west african anthropology carries the burden of a chasm between what is considered traditional or authentically african and islamic. This website is for people of various faiths who seek to understand islam and muslims. Western impact on africa s economic development and the progress of democracy jiaxu liu iowa state university follow this and additional works at. Development of teaching and learning method on islamic. Islam in africa has to varying degrees incorporated tribal and preislamic practices, and the muslims of africa have accepted claims of several selfproclaimed mahdis. Spread of islam in west africa islam reached the savannah region in the 8th century c. As for the political aspect many islamic states rose and. The moroccan occupation of the niger bend in 1591 meant that the domination of the western sudan by mande or mandeinspired empiresghana, mali, songhaiwhich had persisted for at least five centuries, was at last ended. Unesco eolss sample chapters world civilizations and history of human development african civilizations. Because islam spread to west africa from north africa, muslims there fol lowed the maliki school of law dominant in north africa. By focusing on the specific subject of the development of french policy towards islam, it sheds light on a wide range of issues, from the grand strategy of french imperialism to the. The songhai kings were pushed southeast into their original homeland of dendi, farther down. Almost onethird of the worlds muslim population resides today in the.