Religion Of Pre Colonial Africa?

Well, it depends on which area you're looking at. Most of Sub-Saharan Africa during the pre-colonial period followed animist religions or belief systems typical of hunterer-gather societies. In East Africa, specifically in Ethiopia, and in Nubia between the 5th and 13th centuries, the dominant religion was Christianity. Islam made some inroads on 2 coastlines. The first one was the Indian Ocean coastline, where Islam became the dominant religion from the 8th to 10th century onwards, on a thin stretch of land ranging from the Egypt all the way down to northern Mozambique. Progress inland was very slow, however, and little Islamization of the interior had occured by the 19th century. The other "coastline" was the Sahel, in many ways the shore of the Sahara opposite the Islamic areas of North Africa, ranging from the Senegal to Darfur, and adjacent to "mainland" Sub-Saharan Africa. Islamization here started in the 10th century but with a few exceptions (the upper Senegal valley), was rather superficial, limiting itself to the rulers and upper classes. In general, Islam tended to be so mixed with animist religions in these areas, that muslim travellers such as Ibn Battutta in the 14th century regarded them with horror as pagans. By the 19th century, this syncretism and the growing influence of Islam were enough to prompt Islamic fundamentalists to declare a series of jihads over a huge geographical area, from Usman Dan Fodio in Nigeria, to Amadou Amadou in Senegal.

Originally posted by pixie_gal What are the years of dominance for the Amadou Amadou and Usman Dan Fodio?

Also what would be the description of the Muslim Influence, Government Organization, and some distinctive characters of these societies?

NA yes, subsaharan Africa, no.

What I do know, going back to African religious principles is what the whole continent has in common, (disregarding islam of course) and is practiced today is that of females being considered clean, their bodies holy temples which bring life into the world. Their "monthlies" are celebrated and their breasts regarded as religious ornaments representing the "circle of life." 

I guess I was talking about east africa. But the belief that it is a abomination against God for any woman's breasts to be covered is common place And, as far as I’m concerned, both Christianity and Islam are the two worse things thatever happened to the African continent.

Originally posted by Malik Was islam the number 1 religion of pre colonial africa?I mean..throughout west africa and what have you?

No it was not, not even close.


Edited by Melissa - 07-Feb-2009 at 17:43

Originally posted by gcle2003 Islam counts as a colonial period religion since its spread in Africa was due (in its origin, rather than recently) to Arab colonisation.

Edited by jfsndvs - 17-Mar-2009 at 00:26

Originally posted by jfsndvs Originally posted by gcle2003 Islam counts as a colonial period religion since its spread in Africa was due (in its origin, rather than recently) to Arab colonisation.   Islam would only count as a colonial period for northern Africa, where they ruled.  Arabs never ruled over the Saharan/Sahelian kingdoms and empires.  Islam spread mostly through contact, trade, and intermarriage.    Like someone mentioned earlier, Islam was not widespread until Usman dan Fodio, Umar Tall, Modibo Adama, and Samory Ture led Jihads throughout West Africa in the 19th century.  But still, Africans tend to mix both Islam and Christianity with indigenous traditions.

And my favorite: Yemaya (That in Brazil is called Iemanja)

Edited by pinguin - 21-May-2009 at 15:38

Thanks very much! That's wonderful.