The Impact of Immigrant Religions- Christianity and Islam- in Africa

Religion directly impacts every aspect of life: personal life, government, economics, family, and education. Religion plays a role in the creation of spheres of influence that contribute to the segmentation of people along linguistic, cultural, and ethnic lines (Munala, 2002). It has dual capacity to foster peace, and in instigating violence, social unrest, and cultural tension (Eller, 2007). For many Africans, it is religion, more than anything else, that shapes their worldview and participation in social life (Mbiti, 1969). Prior to the advent of immigrant religions, there were different religious practices in Africa. However, over time in and across regions, the two religions that have exerted the greatest influences are Christianity and Islam.

Historically, Christianity arrived in Africa arrived in the middle of the 1st century in Egypt. By the end of the 2nd century, it had reached the region around Carthage, and spread to Aksumite empire in modern-day Eritrea and Ethiopia, the Nubian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia (Kobishanov, 1980). On the other hand, Islam spread into Africa out of Arabia in the early seventh century through the efforts of Muslim traders who took advantage of the trans-Saharan trade route which ran through Africa, Arabia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean into Europe to plant the Islamic faith (Acquah, 2011). Through the commercial activities of the North African Muslims, the religion spread to West Africa in the 9th century. Thus, both religions have been on the continent of Africa for over 1,300 years (Oku, 2020). Now, according to updated religion data, there are nearly 685 million Christians in Africa and 446 million Muslims in 43 countries (Wuthnow, 2009). This age-long history has made the religions exert a lot of influence on the African civilization.

This paper aims to explore the impacts of the Christianity and Islam in Africa. The paper would explore the impact on cultural practices, family systems, education, dressings, economies, and housing architectures.

Christianity has led to fundamental shifts in African societies (Ugwukah & Ohaja, 2019). Christian missionaries preached against human sacrifices, twin destruction, killing of albinos, institution of polygamy, and secret societies (Ugwukah & Ohaja, 2019). Furthermore, the Christian ideology impacted on the family cultural systems. Prior to Christianity, the family system practiced in Africa was polygamy and large extended family. However, Christianity doctrines demanded monogamy and nuclear family. Christianity introduced education through the works of the missionaries in their regions of operations.

In Nigeria, Rev. S.W. Koelle produced a grammar of African Narrative literature in Kanuri (Eluwa & Ukaegbu, 1996). Furthermore, in 1852, Rev. Townsend established the first newspaper in the Yoruba language. This led to the emergence of people educated in English language and new thinking patterns. On the negative side, some of the teachings of the missionaries encouraged the condemnation of indigenous African names, art, music, dances, fables, and dress patterns (Boahen, 1991).

Islam came with several impacts on African civilization. It cut across family and ethnic institutions and emphasized unity. Second it brought about a more efficient administration, judicial systems, and taxation in some places such as Western Sudan that employed educated Muslims into public positions. (Adu-Gyamfi, Ampadu, & Hiribarren, 2004). This was also the case in ancient Ghana before the eleventh century. Thirdly, Islam introduced literacy as well as Muslim education into West Africa – which made it possible to preserve history through books such as Tarikh es Sudan written by Al-Sa’di in Timbuktu in the seventeenth century (Cartwright, 2019). Fourth, as Islam continued to spread in West Africa, schools and educational centers were established such as Al-Qarawiyyin University which is the oldest existing educational institution in the world. It was founded in 859 by A.D Fatima al-Fihri, a Muslim woman, in Morocco’s Fez (Sakay, 2020).

On the negative side, the Islamic religion caused division and downfall of ancient kingdom in Africa. In some regions, it challenged traditional African religion. For instance, it weakened the basis on which some of the Sudanese states such as Kanem and ancient Ghana rested, and contributed to their downfall (Steve, 2020). Also, Jihad caused periodic outbreaks of instability and chaos in Western Sudan and precipitated the downfall of some states like the Hanusa. (Adu-Gyamfi, Ampadu, & Hiribarren, 2004). In some other countries, it divided the ruling group into Muslim and non-Muslim faction. This is evident in states such as Nigeria where the Northerners are known as the Muslims, and the Southerners are known as the Christian. This has caused several internal strife thereby prohibiting national development.

Furthermore, Islam collapsed economies. The ancient people of Marrakesh and Sijilmasa were indoctrinated with the religious ideologies of Ibn Yasin through forceful conversions (Yusof, 2016). Through brutal takeovers, economies such as ancient Ghana were set back, and fell in 1076. In trade and economics, Islam promoted trade between West Africa and the Mediterranean. The religion developed and widened the trans-Saharan Caravan trade (Adu-Gyamfi, Ampadu, & Hiribarren, 2004). The trade enriched the West African and the Muslim traders. Muslims from North Africa came in their numbers and settled in the commercial centres. This helped in the development of the cities such as Timbuktu, Gao, Jenne and Kano.

Today, we see the Trade Agreements in Middle East and North Africa countries; and the Agadir Agreement for a free trade area between Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia—later including Lebanon and Palestine (Karasapan, 2019). However, these are without much global economics progress. Statistics of international organizations about poverty and human development places the Muslim world amongst the most backward nations (Haq, 2018). From the member countries in the Organization of Islamic Conference representing the Muslim world, 25 of them are placed amongst the 56 most poverty-stricken countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (Sahibzada, 1992).

There is also the visible impact of Christianity and Islam on dressing. There were changes in cultural life in the sense of dressing because of the introduction of Islam in West Africa. For example, the wives of prominent Muslims were required to veil their faces. This is quite different from the lifestyle of historical Nubian and Meroetic women who were seen dancing naked (Solange, 2018).

Religious influences, also, have strong linkages with current housing structures and architectural designs. Prior to Islam and Christianity, there were structures such as Amazigh architecture, Nubian architecture, and Aksumite architecture. North Africa used stone and rammed earth; West Africa used mud and adobe brick; Central Africa used thatch, wood, and more perishable materials; and Southeast and Southern Africa used stone wood. (Tetteh, 2010). Islam helped in the introduction of burnt brick. For example, Ibrahim As-Sahil designed a magnificent brick mosque in Gao, Timbuctu and a stone palace in Mali for Mansa Musa (Adu-Gyamfi, Ampadu, & Hiribarren, 2004). By the 16th century this form had penetrated the Nigerian savanna (Oliver & Hess, 2012).

Until the late 19th century, Christian influence on African architecture was minimal (Hess & Oliver, 2012). Going forward, the Catholic churches built were richly painted with biblical murals and had huge influences of the architectural structure of their countries. This still resemble several Catholic churches built across Africa today. For example, through Christianity, the Portuguese brought medieval European fortress architecture to Africa, primarily along the western and southwestern coastal regions marked by high towers, thick masonry walls, and large storage spaces. Also, the French, Dutch, and British colonial masters who were Christians introduced broad Parisian-style boulevards and Victorian-style structures that can be seen in many African urban centers today. In today’s African architectural civilization, these have developed into high-rise buildings and other grand-style apartments.

In conclusion, I have shown the positive and negative impacts that Christianity and Islamic religions have had on African civilization through the lens of history. Going forward, the impact might be on the increase. African have come to accept both religions as their ways of life. It is therefore important to keep measuring the impact against the acceptable values and the rich history of Africa.

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