The Influence of Islam on Africa

Islam affected many different aspects of African culture. Here are 6 aspects that were affected by Islam.

Islam entered West Africa through Trans - Saharan trade. Muslim merchants brought

their religion along with them when they were trading.

CAMEL CARAVAN

Islamic merchants settled in West African trading cities like Kumbi and Timbuktu.

Medieval Timbuktu

As time progressed these Muslims integrated (mixed/ blended) many aspects (parts / elements) of their culture with African

traditions.

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Many Africans embraced

Islam.

AFRICAN MUSLIMS PRAYING TOWARDS MECCA

One of the most famous African Muslims was Mansa Musa. He ruled the kingdom of Mali from

1307 to 1332.

Mansa Musa was known for his extravagant (fancy) hajj. On his way to Makkah he stopped in many cities and gave gifts of gold and spent freely. Mansa Musa’s

journey put Mali on the map.

What is Mansa Musa holding in both his hands? What do you think those two

things reveal (tell) about the importance of Mansa Musa and the kingdom of Mali?

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Islam brought a uniform writing and language system to Africa. That language was Arabic. Before Arabic there were many different languages spoken

throughout West Africa and communication was difficult. Muslims were also the first ones to write about African

history.

Young African boy studying the Qur’an.

Language

African and Islamic art are very similar. Both

incorporate (use) geometric shapes and patterns.

African Kente ClothIslamic Designs

ART

Because of Islam the structure of government

changed from a decentralized

form of government, were many people had a little bit of power, to

a highly centralized form where one person had a lot of power.

Government

After Mansa Musa’s hajj he thought that education in Mali should be reformed

(changed). He brought back many Arabic scholars to Mali.

The Sankore Mosque, in Timbuktu, was a university for 25,000 students during the 15th century.

Education

This is a quote concerning medieval Timbuktu. According to this quote

why was Timbuktu important?

“Salt comes from the north, gold from the south, and silver from the country of the white men, but the word of God and the treasures of wisdom are only to be found in Timbuktu.”

The scholar, Ahmad Baba, headed the

Sankore University for over 30 years

during the 16th century.

Ahmad Baba

Architecture - the design of buildings

Architecture changed from huts to flat roofed structures. These structures used many of the same natural materials found in the area. Muslims developed a drainage system using clay pipes that made their buildings last longer than huts.

HUTS

Flat roofed buildings

Muslim architecture and African huts side-by-side in Timbuktu

Another change brought about by Islam was in succession or how the right to rule is passed on.

Traditional African succession was matrilineal, which means that inheritance is passed through the mother’s

bloodline, instead of the father’s.

Succession

After Islam was introduced succession became patrilineal, which means that the right to rule was passed from the father’s bloodline. This was not true in all African cultures, just in the ones where Islam was dominant.

One of the reasons Islam spread in Africa was that Muslims allowed Africans to keep and practice traditional African

customs just as long as they did not contradict (go against) the Five

Pillars of Faith.

Religious Practices

Islam did NOT replace traditional African culture. However, it did

have a very large impact on Africa’s history and development.