The Spread of Islam in West Africa

1. CORNELL NOTE TOPIC:
THE SPREAD OF ISLAM IN
WEST AFRICA
EQ: How was Islam spread and followed in
ancient Africa?

2. TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE BROUGHT ISLAM
TO WEST AFRICA
• Between 639-708 C.E., Arab Muslims
conquered North Africa
Map
shows
how N.
Africa was
mainly
Muslim!
(GREEN)
• They wanted to bring Islam to West
Africa too, but knew it would be hard to
cross the Sahara Desert
• Islam first reached Ghana through
Muslim traders and missionaries
(people who spread religion)

3. HOW DID THE PEOPLE OF GHANA REACT
TO THE NEW RELIGION OF ISLAM?
• The king of Ghana did not convert to
Islam
• He did allow Muslims to build
homes/mosques within the kingdom
• Many Muslim merchants and
traders settled in Kumbi (A great
marketplace city)
• Overtime, Muslim communities
grew, had 12 mosques (temples),
an imam (prayer leader)
Muslim Mosque in Africa

4. IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE MORE
VIOLENCE OCCURRED!
• 11th century (1076), Muslims
from the north called the
Almorvarids waged jihad
(holy war) in West Africa.
• They captured Kumbi (the
city)
• They did not have power
long, but helped spread
Islam

5. TO THE SOUTH OF GHANA, THE MANDE
PEOPLE ALSO ACCEPTED ISLAM
A mural of Mali leader Mansa
Musa
• This group of people took over
the marketplace city of Kumbi
• In 1312, a new leader, Mansa
Musa took over in Mali
• He was the first to practice
the religion Islam
• He made Hajj or the religious trip
to Makkah in Arabia

6. HIS HOLY JOURNEY OR PILGRIMAGE WAS
AN ENORMOUS TASK!
• The trip covered 3,000 miles
• As many as 80,000 people went
with him on the hajj
• He reached Cairo, Egypt in July of
1324 after traveling for 8 months!
• He had 500 slaves with him, each
carrying a 6 pound golden staff
• He also had 200 camels, 30,000
pounds of gold!

7. SOMETHING INTERESTING HAPPENED
BETWEEN MANSA MUSA AND THE SULTAN OF
CAIRO EGYPT!
GOLD!
• When Musa met the sultan, he was
asked to kneel before the sultan
• Musa felt insulted and full of pride
• He finally agreed to kneel and the sultan
invited him to SIT next to him as an equal
• When Musa left Egypt for Makkah,
everyone from all the lands was
impressed by his wealth.
• HE GAINED FAME!

8. RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IN WEST AFRICA
• As Islam spread, people practiced
the five pillars of faith
• Prayed, fasted, gave to poor,
etc.
• Even though some Africans
converted to Islam, many held on
to older religious practices

9. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE OLDER
RELIGIOUS PRACTICES?
• They worshipped spirits of dead
ancestors or family members
• Prayed to them, made sacrifices
for them
• They also used AMULETS or charms.
• They hung these in their homes
to protect them and give them
good luck
• (WE WILL MAKE THESE
TOMORROW IN CLASS!)

10. NOW: STOP TAKING CORNELL
NOTES. OBSERVE EACH PICTURE
AND DO YOUR BEST TO ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS THAT GO WITH
EACH ONE. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE,
MAKE YOUR BEST EDUCATED
INFERENCE.