Islam in Africa
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The precise number of Muslims in Africa is unknown, as statistics regarding religious demography in Africa are incomplete. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, Islam is the largest religion in Africa, followed by Christianity. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, 45% of the population are Muslims, 40% are Christians and less than 15% are non-religious or follow African traditional religions. Islam in Africa is increasing, as many Bantu speakers embrace Islam especially in central and eastern Africa. The long and rich history in of these religions in the continent has proved to be the source of many conflicts, primarily in countries where there is no clear majority, such as Tanzania, Nigeria, and Cote d'Ivoire.
History
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Islam arrived to Africa in the earliest days of Islam, when Muslims fleeing persecution in Mecca arrived in what was then the Aksumite empire. Islam spread to Africa via passages through the Sinai Peninsula and Egypt and through Islamic Arab and Persian traders and sailors. Islam's first muezzin, Bilal ibn Ribah, was also of Northeast African(Habasha) descent.
From 1869 to 1914 Islam in Africa probably doubled in size of countries.[1] Despite its large contribution to the makeup of the continent, Islam is predominantly concentrated in North and Northeast Africa, as well as the Sahel region. This has served to further differentiate the various cultures, customs and laws of different parts of the African continent.
Today
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Islam continued a rapid growth into the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Today, backed by gulf oil cash, Muslims have increased success in proselytizing, with a growth rate, by some estimates, that is twice as fast as Christianity in Africa.[2]
Islamic values have much in common with traditional African life: its emphasis on communal living, its clear roles for men and women, its tolerance of polygamy. According to the New York Times, Christianity was alien to most Africans.[3] Africa is funded mostly by external sources.
Muslim population
| Region | Total Population | Muslims | % Muslim | % of Total Muslims in Africa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Africa | 97,665,660 | 15.3 million | 15.67% | 3.46% |
| East Africa | 283,765,021 | 81.9 million | 28.86% | 18.53% |
| North Africa | 202,151,323 | 180 million | 89.04% | 40.74% |
| Southern Africa | 54,055,000 | 0.89 million | 1.65% | 0.2% |
| West Africa | 298,632,255 | 163.7 million | 54.81% | 37.05% |
| Total | 936,269,259 | 441.79 million | 47.18% |
Population by country
| Country | Population |
| Somalia | 100% |
| Mauritania | 100% |
| Western Sahara | 100% |
| Tunisia | 98% |
| Morocco | 98.7% |
| Algeria | 97% |
| Libya | 97% |
| Niger | 96% |
| Senegal | 95% |
| Djibouti | 94%[4] |
| Mali | 94% |
| Guinea | 92% |
| The Gambia | 90% |
| Egypt | 90% |
| Sudan | 80% |
| Chad | 54% |
| Sierra Leone | 65% |
| Burkina Faso | 65% |
| Nigeria | 50% |
| Eritrea | 50% |
| Ethiopia | 45% |
| Guinea-Bissau | 50% |
| Cote D'Ivoire | 40% |
| Tanzania | 35% |
| Benin | 24% |
| Cameroon | 22% |
| Liberia | 20% |
| Togo | 20% |
| Malawi | 20% |
| Mozambique | 18% |
| Ghana | 16% |
| Rwanda | 10% |
| Uganda | 16% |
| Central African Republic | 22% |
| Gabon | 12% |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 10% |
| Kenya | 10%[5] |
| Zambia | 5% |
| Botswana | 3% |
| Angola | 2% |
| Republic of the Congo | 2% |
| Namibia | 1% |
| South Africa | 1% |
| Lesotho | 1% |
| Swaziland | 1% |
| Zimbabwe | 1% |
References
- ^ Bulliet, Richard, Pamela Crossley, Daniel Headrick, Steven Hirsch, Lyman Johnson, and David Northrup. The Earth and Its Peoples. 3. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. ISBN 0-618-42770-8
- ^ Islam making in-roads in Zambia
- ^ Rising Muslim Power in Africa Causing Unrest in Nigeria and Elsewhere, New York Times.
- ^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/DJ.html
- ^ According to the CIA World Factbook (2009), "a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely." See also Islam and Politics in Kenya, Arye Oded, pg. 11.
External links
- Islam in Contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa: a bibliography. African Studies Centre (ASC) in Leiden and the Centre d’Études d’Afrique Noire (CEAN) in Bordeaux. (2005). Academic bibliography, mostly in European languages, compiled for a 2005 conference at UNESCO.
- Islam in Africa: a popular guide to Islam in Africa, sponsored by "The Islam in Africa Organisation".
- Muslim Cultures in Africa: Snapshots of a Diverse Continent. Islamonline.com, 18 January 2006.
- The Story of Africa: Islam, from the BBC Worldservice.
