The history of islam in africa ohio university press. 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. Although the majority of muslims in africa are sunni, 7 the complexity of islam in africa is revealed in the va rious schools of thought, traditi ons, and voices that constantly contend for dominance in many african countries. 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. It applies to all of morocco, algeria, and tunisia. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The introduction of islam into east africa followed a somewhat different path from that in west africa. Michael brett 1983 very important argument for spread of islam into saharawest africa. Muslim societies in african history the islamic monthly. The presence of islam in africa can be traced to the 7th century ce, when in rajab 8 bh, or may 614 ce, muhammad advised a number of his early disciples, who were facing persecution by the polytheistic inhabitants of the mecca, to seek refuge across the red sea in axum. Islam in africa uf center for african studies university of florida.
Along the coast of africa islam spread among the berbers, who joined the muslim community and almost immediately drove north across the mediterranean into europe. Early history the earliest concrete evidence of islam and muslims in eastern africa is a mosque foundation in lamu where gold, silver and copper coins dated ad 830 were found. Bringing together two dozen leading scholars, this comprehensive work treats the. The history of islam in west africa can be explained in three stages, containment, mixing, and reform. Southern africa, however, was not as heavily affected by islam, which today remains a minority religion in this region. It was from north africa or almarahab that islam spread into the western and central sudan. The history of the islamic faith on the continent of africa spans fourteen centuries. In contrast to traditions which suggest that islam did not take root in africa, author david robinson shows the complex struggles of muslims in the muslim state of morocco and in the hausaland region of nigeria. After the death of the prophet, 100 years after, between the 8th and 9th centuries arab traders and travelers began to spread the religion along the eastern coast of africa. It was the long, drawnout confrontation of the seventh century c. The popular and academic mak ing and imagining of africa, as david robinson explains in muslim societies in african history, was shaped by a very different experience.
Because islam spread to west africa from north africa, muslims there fol lowed the maliki school of law dominant in north africa. This book is not an attempt to write a history of west africa, but to show the way in which islam. 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. Because islam spread to west africa from north africa, muslims there fol.
In the seventh century, islam entered africa from the northeast corner. Trade and commerce paved the way for the introduction of. Nazeer ahmed, phd africa, alone among the continents, has a majority muslim population. The journal of african history the historiography of islam in. Mar 31, 2000 the history of the islamic faith on the continent of africa spans fourteen centuries. The history of africa 73 military history lamphear 2007, fighting for britain. Since then, the literature on the history of africa has grown considerably in both scope and quality, and many new themes have appeared. Despite all of these changes, west africa maintained some continuity as well. While this was a shortlived encounter, muslims eventually left a. I have tried to present a brief sketch of the spread of islam in africa, its diversity and some of its problems. Before considering how the history of islam has been studied in west africa, it is. Hanretta, sean islam and postemancipation in french west africa.
Islam in africa, the development of the muslim religion on the african continent. The swahili language remains central to many east african muslims, hence the occasionally heard phrase, swahili islam. Authentic statements publications paperback, 73 pages. The history of islam concerns the religion of islam and its adherents, muslims. Emerging europe and the byzantine empire 44mb chapter 10. Pouwels ohio university press 2000 pdf the history of the islamic faith on the continent of africa spans fourteen centuries. They were the first negro people who accepted islam. World history textbook pdf copy social studies teachers. The history of islam in africa facts about the muslims. Trade and commerce paved the way for the introduction of new. Africa was the first continent into which islam spread from southwest asia, during the early 7th century ce. African islam is not static and is constantly being reshaped by prevalent social, economic, and political conditions. The history of islam in east africa stretches back to around ce.
Ap world history islam in africa flashcards quizlet. The histom1 ofls1am il1 africa ohio university press. There are not many ideological options in africa and i consider the chances for islamic expansion in africa to be as good as, if not better than, ever before. Islam entered west africa around the 11th century, and according to the oldest source concerning this, the muslim geographer alzuhri writing in 17, the people of ghana converted in 1076, most probably through a murabitun presence among them, even though their king was a nonmuslim. The forces of islam went further into african continents through egypt and that into what was called berbers states or the magrib. This is a short history of africa excluding egypt, ethiopia and dutch and british south africa, which are the subjects of separate histories. Islam quickly spread west from alexandria to pockets in egypt, nubia and ethiopia. A quest for interreligious dialogue, muslim world, january 1, 2007, p.
Below, mustafa briggs lists 11 books that highlight different aspects of this deeprooted tradition, the achievements at times even existence of which are often overlooked. Christianity has been in africa for a very long time, long before its proselytization brought european missionaries to africa. Until colonial times, images of sub saharan africa were primarily the product of wild speculations about a dark and mysterious unknown. Muslim societies in african history by david robinson. The introduction of christianity into africa goes back to roman times, when the gospel writer mark founded the coptic christian church in alexandria, as explained in chapter 3.
The fact of african history ii islam in west africa thomas hodgkin lecturer and writer in the present phase of african history, when the colonial epoch, this relatively brief period of european ascendancy, is drawing to a close, it is natural to speculate about the future. The first phase brought the earliest muslims as part. During muhammads lifetime a group of muslims escaped meccan persecution 615 by fleeing to ethiopia, where the negus king gave them protection. The muslim troops led by uqbah ibnnafi alfihri made this conquest that came at the time of usman bnaffan.
It has been present in africa since the very early days of the faith, and it constitutes the practice of roughly half the population of the continent, or some 250 million people. Africa was the first continent, outside of arabia that islam spread to in the early 7th century. The history of nigeria explained in 6 minutes 3,000 years. A quest for interreligious dialogue john alembillah azumah on. A volatile mix, national geographic, january 2002, 85. The history of islam in africa is almost as old as islam itself, stretching back to the 7th century. Some of the history of these countries, however, is naturally mentioned in this history of the rest of africa but is kept to the minimum needed to make the rest comprehensible. This book is not an attempt to write a history of west africa, but to show the way in which islam spread and moulded the history of the western sudan.
In writing about muslims in east africa, randall pouwels claims in the history of islam in africa, the spread of islam took place within a wider contextone of cultural influences and migrations. This book is dedicated to those who openmindedly seek knowledge wherever it is. Until colonial times, images of sub saharan africa were primarily the product of wild speculations about a. From east africa, islam spread to india, indonesia and other asian countries. Levtzion, nehemia, levtzion, nehemia, pouwels, randall l. Mar 03, 20 islam s spread from ad to 1750 ad impacted africa socially, culturally, and politically by instituting the slave trade, creating a rise in education, and adding muslim leaders to west africa s history. Africas role in world history africas contentious role in world history has varied with the perspectives of those writing it. 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. Among the great facts in the history of west africa prior to the age of european penetration has been the propagation of islam and the way it has changed african societies. Rating is available when the video has been rented. Of the 100 million people who live in that region today, approximately 40% are muslim.
Crs2 3 maghreb or magrib is an arabic term for north western africa. Islams presence in african history islams presence in african history dates back to the first phase of the prophet muhammads mission, when in 615 a. The history of africa tore linne eriksen introduction the history chapter in the previous edition of studying africa included books published up to 2004. The role of colonies in british imperial wars jackson 2010. Ethiopianism and afroamericans in southern africa, 18831916 baton rouge. Dec 07, 2015 islam in africa islam has an important past and present within africa. The spread of islam in africa began in the 7th and 8th cent.
Islam in south africa is a minority religion practiced by less than 1. Muslim is an arabic word meaning one who submits to god. Pdf presented at the dept of theology, jordan university, 18th february 2016 find, read and cite all the. It was home to its greatest historian, ibn khaldun and the birthplace of its bestknown traveler, ibn batuta. On the east african coast, islam faced the challenge of christianity between. East african muslims are mostly shafiites and some. While most of the muslims live in the northern half, important. Islam and trade in the bilad alsudan, tentheleventh century a. This classic manuscript begins with the courageous stance of the. Islam in africa history of islamic expansion in africa. Introduction of islam in africa contributed by prof.
Bringing together two dozen leading scholars, this. List of books and articles about islam in africa online. Islam a brief overview of the history of islam the origin of islam is placed around 610 ce when muhammad, a highly spiritual and religious man who spent months in praying and self contemplation in a secluded cave near the town of mecca, is thought to have received divine messages. Islams spread from ad to 1750 ad impacted africa socially, culturally, and politically by instituting the slave trade, creating a rise in education, and adding muslim leaders to west africas history. East africa includes a broad swath of territory embracing the modern nations of somalia, kenya, uganda, rwanda, burundi, tanzania, malawi and mozambique. Islam in africa provides an overview over the development of muslim societies in africa from early history 7th century to the present with a. Islam, religion, historiography, anthropology, western africa. 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. Africa gave the islamic world its first muezzin, bilal ibn rabah. Islam reached the savannah region in the 8th century c. What is the history and impact of islam in africa anyone. Almost onethird of the worlds muslim population resides in the continent. In west africa, these movements were in the same direction, from north to south, as that taken by islam.
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