WEST AFRICA & ISLAM: BEFORE & AFTER

Before Islam…

Before Islam…

Belief in Spirits

“Good” spirits

“Evil” spirits

“Nature” spirits

Before Islam…

African Tribal dance http://

www.metmuseum.org/special/Genesis/origin_video.htm

How did Islam spread to West Africa?

After Islam…

Africa: Before & AfterBefore Islam After Islam

Society •Matriarchal • PatriarchalLanguage • Tribal languages

(Soninke, Mande)•Arabic (in gov’t, trade, &

cities)• Tribal languages

What religion looked like

• Polytheistic• Ancestor worship• Spirits (nature,

good, evil, etc.)

• 3 Options: Convert to Islam, maintain old ways or blend both religions

Africa: Before & AfterBefore Islam After Islam

Culture •Oral (SPOKEN) language

•Written language (Arabic) in addition to oral one

Gov’t • Importance of Kinship •Only men could

inherit property

• Laws based on Islam (Qur’an & Sunnah)•Women given some

rights when fathers died

Economy • $$$ from gold/salt • $$$ from gold/salt