8/8/2019 African Religion NY

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/african-religion-ny 1/6

Religion in Africa 1

Religion in Africa

A map of the Africa, showing the major religions

distributed as of today. Map shows only the

religion as a whole excluding denominations or

sects of the religions, and is colored by how the

religions are distributed not by main religion of 

country. Where overlap, majority is displayed

except for traditional religions practiced in a

syncretic fashion.

Religions by country

Religion Portal

The Hanging Church of Cairo,

Egypt.

Religion in Africa is multifaceted. Most Africans adhere to either Christianity or

Islam. Christianity and Islam contest which is larger, but many people that are

adherents of both religions also practice African traditional religions, with traditions

of folk religion or syncretism practised alongside an adherent's Christianity or Islam.[1]

Judaism also has roots in Africa, due to the time the Israelites spent in Egypt before

the Exodus.[2]

Around 15% of Africans follow one of the traditional African religions

and a small minority of Africans are non-religious.

The original religions of Africa have been declining over the past century due to the

influences of colonialism, acculturation and increasing proselytizing by Christianity

and Islam. However, in the Americas and Caribbean, syncretistic religions involving

African religions are growing.[3]

Religious adherents in Africa are often of a syncretic

nature.[4]

African traditional religion

Traditional African religions encompass a wide variety of traditional beliefs. Traditional religious customs are

sometimes shared by many African societies, but they are usually unique to specific ethnic groups. Traditional

African religions used to be adhered to by the majority of Africa's population, however since the rapid expansion of 

Christianity and Islam they have become a minority across much of their own continent. Many African Christians

and Muslims maintain some aspects of their original traditional religions.

8/8/2019 African Religion NY

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/african-religion-ny 2/6

8/8/2019 African Religion NY

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/african-religion-ny 3/6

Religion in Africa 3

By 430 AD, Frumentius returned to Ethiopia, he was welcomed with open arms by the rulers who were at the time

not Christian. Ten years later, through the support of the kings, the majority of the kingdom was converted and

Christianity was declared the official state religion.

Rastafari

There are also Rasta communities in Africa. In the Ivory Coast presidential candidates tried to reach out to voters in

the Rasta village of Port Bouet.[7]

 [8]

Islam

Abuja National Mosque in Nigeria.

According to the World Book Encyclopedia, Islam is the largest

religion in Africa,[9]

with 47% of the population being Muslim. Its

historic roots in Africa stem from the time Muhammad whose relatives

and the epic followers migrated on a hijra to Abyssinia in fear of 

persecution from the pagan Arabs.

The main spread of Islam came with the invasion of Egypt under

Caliph Umar, through the Sinai Peninsula - followed by the rapidconquest of North Africa by the Arab armies - as well as through

Islamic Arab and Persian traders and sailors.

Islam is the dominant religion in North Africa and the Horn of Africa,

and it has also become the predominant and historical religion of the West African interior and the far west coast of 

the continent as well as the coast of East Africa. There have been several Muslim empires in Western Africa which

exerted considerable influence, notably the Mali Empire, which flourished for several centuries and the Songhai

Empire, under the leadership of Sonni Ali and Askia Mohammed.

Islam continued a rapid growth into the 20th and 21st centuries - expanding mainly at the expense of traditional

African religions. Islamic values are seen to have much in common with traditional African life: its emphasis on

communal living, its clear and distinct roles for men and women, its tolerance of polygamy. Muslims sometimes

argue that Christianity is alien to most Africans, despite it having a longer history on the continent.[10]

A notable

example includes Rwanda where, according to reports, the percentage of Muslims in Rwanda has doubled[11]

or

tripled[12]

since the genocide, due to Muslim protection of Tutsis and to Hutus wanting to distance themselves from

those who committed genocide.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is relatively modern community which is progressing relatively rapidly,

particularly in West Africa.

8/8/2019 African Religion NY

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/african-religion-ny 4/6

Religion in Africa 4

Judaism

Adherents of Judaism too can be found scattered across Africa. Perhaps not as well known as the history of 

Christianity and Islam in Africa to the outside observer, Judaism has an ancient and rich history on the African

continent. Today, there are Jewish communities in many countries; including the Beta Israel of Ethiopia, the

Abayudaya of Uganda, the House of Israel in Ghana, the Igbo Jews of Nigeria and the Lemba of Southern Africa.

Baha'i

Bahá'í House of Worship, Kampala,

Uganda.

Baha'i Faith is the 3rd most widespread organized Abrahamic religion in

Africa after Islam and Christianity.[13]

African Bahá'í Community statistics

are also hard to come by. However, Africans have a long history with the

Bahá'í Faith; several of the earliest followers of both the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh

were reportedly African. From 1924 to 1960 the religion was declared one of 

the legally sanctioned faiths in Egypt, but has since then been subject to

restrictions and outright persecution by authorities and others

Hinduism

The history of Hinduism in Africa is, by most accounts, very short in

comparison to that of Islam, Christianity, or Judaism. However, the presence

of its practitioners in Africa dates back to pre-colonial times and even

medieval times. There are sizable of Hindu populations in South Africa and

the East African coastal nations.

References[1] Encyclopedia Britannica. Britannica Book of the Year 2003. Encyclopedia Britannica, (2003) ISBN 9780852299562 p.306

According to the Encyclopedia Britanica, as of mid-2002, there were 376,453,000 Christians, 329,869,000 Muslims and 98,734,000 people

who practiced traditional religions in Africa. Ian S. Markham,(A World Religions Reader. Cambridge, MA: Bl ackwell Publishers, 1996.)

(http://www.  greenwoodsvillage.  com/gor/islam.htm) is cited by Morehouse University as giving the mid 1990s figure of 278,250,800

Muslims in Africa, but still as 40.8% of the total spaggetti These numbers are estimates, and remain a matter of conjecture. See Amadu Jacky

Kaba. The spread of Christianity and Islam in Africa: a survey and analysis of the numbers and percentages of Christians, Muslims and those

who practice indigenous religions. The Western Journal of Black Studies, Vol 29, Number 2, June 2005. Discusses the estimations of various

almanacs and encyclopedium, placing Britannica's estimate as the most agreed figure. Notes the figure presented at the World Christian

Encyclopedia, summarized here (http://www.afrikaworld.net/afrel/Statistics.htm), as being an outlier. On rates of growth, Islam and

Pentecostal Christianity are highest, see: The List: The World’s Fastest-Growing Religions (http://www. foreignpolicy.  com/story/cms.

php?story_id=3835), Foreign Policy, May 2007.

[2] "Moses." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online

[3] http://www. religioustolerance.  org/ifa.  htm

[4] Restless Spirits: Syncretic Religion (http://www.jpanafrican.com/docs/vol3no5/3. 5-6newRestless. pdf) Yolanda Pierce, Ph.D. Associate

Professor of African American Religion & Literature

[5] Encyclopedia Britannica. Britannica Book of the Year 2003. Encyclopedia Britannica, (2003) ISBN 9780852299562 p.306

According to the Encyclopedia Britanica, as of mid-2002, there were 376,453,000 Christians, 329,869,000 Muslims and 98,734,000 people

who practiced traditional religions in Africa. Ian S. Markham,(A World Religions Reader. Cambridge, MA: Bl ackwell Publishers, 1996.)

(http://www.  greenwoodsvillage.  com/gor/islam.htm) is cited by Morehouse University as giving the mid 1990s figure of 278,250,800

Muslims in Africa, but still as 40.8% of the total spaggetti These numbers are estimates, and remain a matter of conjecture. See Amadu Jacky

Kaba. The spread of Christianity and Islam in Africa: a survey and analysis of the numbers and percentages of Christians, Muslims and those

who practice indigenous religions. The Western Journal of Black Studies, Vol 29, Number 2, June 2005. Discusses the estimations of various

almanacs and encyclopedium, placing Britannica's estimate as the most agreed figure. Notes the figure presented at the World Christian

Encyclopedia, summarized here (http://www.afrikaworld.net/afrel/Statistics.htm), as being an outlier. On rates of growth, Islam and

Pentecostal Christianity are highest, see: The List: The World’s Fastest-Growing Religions (http://www. foreignpolicy.  com/story/cms.

php?story_id=3835), Foreign Policy, May 2007.

8/8/2019 African Religion NY

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/african-religion-ny 5/6

Religion in Africa 5

[6] Hansberry, William Leo. Pillars in Ethiopian History; the William Leo Hansberry African History Notebook. Washington: Howard

University Press, 1934.

[7] "spokesman for Ivorian President speaks to the Rastafari community in the Rasta village of Port Bouet, Abidjan" (http://www. daylife. com/ 

photo/07ou8DN1wwepa?q=Rastafari). Daylife.com. 2010-01-06. . Retrieved 2010-02-01.

[8] "drawing of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie at Rasta village of Port Bouet" (http://www.  daylife.  com/photo/ 

0cNSdwI3d6bKU?q=ethiopian). Daylife.com. 2010-01-06. . Retrieved 2010-02-01.

[9] Encyclopedia Britannica. Britannica Book of the Year 2003. Encyclopedia Britannica, (2003) ISBN 9780852299562 p.306

According to the Encyclopedia Britanica, as of mid-2002, there were 480,453,000 Christians, 329,869,000 Muslims and 98,734,000 people

who practiced traditional religions in Africa. Ian S. Markham,(A World Religions Reader. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 1996.)

(http://www.  greenwoodsvillage.  com/gor/islam.htm) is cited by Morehouse University as giving the mid 1990s figure of 278,250,800

Muslims in Africa, but still as 40.8% of the total spaggetti These numbers are estimates, and remain a matter of conjecture. See Amadu Jacky

Kaba. The spread of Christianity and Islam in Africa: a survey and analysis of the numbers and percentages of Christians, Muslims and those

who practice indigenous religions. The Western Journal of Black Studies, Vol 29, Number 2, June 2005. Discusses the estimations of various

almanacs and encyclopedium, placing Britannica's estimate as the most agreed figure. Notes the figure presented at the World Christian

Encyclopedia, summarized here (http://www.afrikaworld.net/afrel/Statistics.htm), as being an outlier. On rates of growth, Islam and

Pentecostal Christianity are highest, see: The List: The World’s Fastest-Growing Religions (http://www. foreignpolicy.  com/story/cms.

php?story_id=3835), Foreign Policy, May 2007.

[10] Rising Muslim Power in Africa Causing Unrest in Nigeria and Elsewhere (http://query. nytimes. com/gst/fullpage.

html?res=9C00EEDC1030F932A35752C1A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1), New York Times.

[11] Emily Wax (2002-11-23). "Islam Attracting Many Survivors of Rwanda Genocide" (http://www. 

washingtonpost. 

com/wp-dyn/articles/ A53018-2002Sep22.  html). Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post. p. A10. . Retrieved 2007-12-04.

[12] Rwanda - International Religious Freedom Report 2003 (http://www. state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/23746.  htm)

[13] http://www. h-net.  org/~bahai/bhpapers/vol1/africa1.  htm

External links

• Theology in Africa (http://www. theologyinafrica.com)

• BBC (http://www. bbc. co. uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/index_section6.  shtml)

• Afrikaworld.net (http://afrikaworld. net/afrel/)

• Text of "Atoms and Ancestors", considered a classic study (http://www. ucalgary. ca/~nurelweb/books/atoms/ 

fred. 

html)• Stanford Page (http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/religion/african-traditional-religion. html)

• African Religions at Africa Missions Resource Center (http://www. africamissions. org/africa/african_religion.

html)

• "Bwiti: An Ethnography of the Religious Imagination in Africa", James Fernandez, Princeton University Press,

1982 (http://www. ibogaine.desk. nl/fernandez.  html)

• http://www. scn. org/rdi/kw-gods.  htm

• The Meaning of Peace in African Traditional Religion and Culture (http://afrikaworld. net/afrel/goddionah.

htm)

• Introduction to Afro-American Studies (http://eblackstudies. org/intro/)

8/8/2019 African Religion NY

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/african-religion-ny 6/6

Article Sources and Contributors 6

Article Sources and ContributorsReligion in Africa  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=403033806 Contributors: 2D, 777anton, ANTIcarrot, Abu Shawka, Adil your, Aggelophoros, Ahanta, Aitias, Alansohn,

Ali M Saad, Alien666, Analyzer99, Angelo De La Paz, Anthro150, Apardee, Armoreno10, Ashley Y, Assasin825, Atlpedia, BD2412, BarretBonden, Belovedfreak, Benbest, Bilby, Black Falcon,

Blargnargles, Bobobo135, BrightBlackHeaven, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Capricorn42, Captain-n00dle, CardinalDan, Carlaude, Catgut, Cattus, Ciphergoth, Coptic ray, DFS454, Darth

Panda, Dbachmann, Doc Strange, Downgrader, Dskluz, Dwo, Edanfor, EivindJ, Elmiguel409, Epbr123, Eric-Wester, Escape Orbit, Ezeu, Fayenatic london, Finlay, Flewis, Freestylefrappe,

Fuhghettaboutit, Grim23, Gringo300, Guiltyspark, Hajatvrc, Hamtechperson, Happysailor, Hmains, Iridescent, Iwanttoeditthissh, J.delanoy, Jamesjonessic, Jeff G., Jigglyfidders, Jim Douglas,

Jimjonessic, Joseph Solis in Australia, Jurema Oliveira, Kakofonous, Kappa, KazakhPol, Kbenroth, Koavf, Kuru, LilHelpa, Lousyd, Madhero88, Mangostar, Marsballer42344, Mbolo, Michael

Devore, Middayexpress, Mr. Lefty, Mungomba, Muntuwandi, Nakon, Nannus, Necromancer44, Neelix, Neurolysis, NrDg, Omphaloscope, Opticals, Orange Suede Sofa, Orijok, Oxymoron83,Papercutbiology, Peaceworld111, PhilKnight, Picaroon, Prsephone1674, Reedy, Resoluthed, Rich Farmbrough, SJP, Sarcelles, Scythian1, Shawnhath, Shot info, Silence, Skysmith, Smkolins,

Staka, Star667, Stephen Burnett, Synchronism, T L Miles, T. Anthony, Timo Honkasalo, Tommy2010, Troglo, Uncle Dick, Vegaswikian, Veledan, VigilancePrime, Warofdreams, Welsh, Wiki

Raja, Wikipelli, Zacatecnik, Zalgo, Zaza8675, Zyxoas, 312 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:Religion distribution Africa crop.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Religion_distribution_Africa_crop.png License: Public Domain Contributors:

User:Moshin, User:T L Miles

File:Cairo, Old Cairo, Hanging Church, Egypt, Oct 2004.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Cairo,_Old_Cairo,_Hanging_Church,_Egypt,_Oct_2004.jpg License:

Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.5 Contributors: User:Blueshade

Image:AbujaNationalMosque.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:AbujaNationalMosque.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 Contributors:

Shiraz Chakera

File:Africa's Bahai temple in Kampala.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Africa's_Bahai_temple_in_Kampala.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike

2.0 Contributors: Shiraz Chakera

License

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unportedhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/