The period from the 19th century onwards, most of the desert tribes especially the Berbers who controlled the trade routes had been converted to Islam. It was these tribes that began the process of a peaceful islamisation of West African tribes or people.

Therefore islam came to West Africa along the Trans-Saharan trade routes from North Africa. Between 639 and 708 AD the Arabs conquered North Africa and occupied it. This led to the spread of Islam. In fact the whole-process was influenced by religious fanatics and commercial traders. These are responsible for the first spread of Islam.

That is why the Sahara was referred to as the Dar-al-islam (the country of islam) in the second half of the 10th century.

How Islam Spread in Western Sudan

The Almoravids movement, a fanatical sect of Moslems was led by Abduilai ibn Yasin speeded up the spread of Islam. This group used forcible conversion where there was opposition

Most of he great empire builders of Western such as Mansa Musa, Askia Muhammad and Idris Alooma were devoted moslems. These encouraged the people and placed great emphasis on the spreading of Islam.

Islam also spread in Western Sudan partly because it accepted polygamy and it also tolerated traditional African religion for example the making and sell of charms which were believed to offering protection against evil forces. Its simplicity of doctrine and mode of worship attracted many people.

Islam also spread easily by conversion of individual rulers in Western Sudan. The object people became Moslems because it was a marker of prestige and fame. In fact the pilgrimages the rulers under took made them spread Islam even further.

The successive attacks on Ghana by Sumanguru and Sundiata probably caused many Moslem Soninkes to flee over a wide area taking with them Islam. As a result, children from the mixed marriages were brought up as Moslems from their childhood. It is these off springs that created a strong Islamic foundation.

The Berbers and the Arabs preferred to deal with fellow Moslems in the Trans-Saharan trade, this attracted many Africans to take on Islam, since it gave them economic advantages especially on trade.

The rulers of the Sudanese empire supported Islam partly because it provided benefits for example it met the support if influential communities in the cities of the Niger bend cities. It also meant unity among members of different tribes and origins. In fact the Islamic political theory stressed the obligation of obedience to a just ruler.

Islam in Ghana and Mali

It is estimated that islam reached Ghana around the 10th Century as a religion practiced by the Sahara Traders.

It later spread to the towns of the Negro people. The capital of Ghana Kumbi had a section that was reserved for Muslims although the traditions pegan religions continued to exist.

Rulers employed Muslim ministers and advisers, but because they seemed more exposed than traditionalists.

Muslim religion in West Africa became very pronounced after a serious holy wars of the Almoravids. In AD 1076, they conquered Kumbi and the rulers were converted to islam.

This Influence made the rulers of the Mandingo State of Kangave to recognise Islam at that same time. By the 13th Century this state had expanded into a powerful Mali empire with Islam as a state religion.

The Mandinkas of Mali drew their strength from Islam that is they became united and acquired a feeling of fraternity and brotherhood.

During the reign of Mansa Musa Islam was a well established religion in Mali and managed to convert other people especially in towns. Koranic schools were set up in big towns such as Niani and Timbuktu.

Many students and teachers from Western Sudan were attracted to the famous learning centre of Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu, which was a level of a University. Many scholars from this university later moved Eastwards.

Islam in Songhai

Songhai came into contact with Islam around the 11th Century perhaps through contact with North African traders.

Islam was stronger in the 14th Century and 19th Century during the leadership of Askia Muhammad the Great who was a committed Muslim himself.

Timbuktu became a centre of Islamic civilisation and culture. With the collapse of Songhai due to Moroccan invasion on 1590, the flourishing Islamic expansion came a quick end.

Islam in Hausaland

The Hausa people got this religion around the 14th century. The Sarkino Kano was much influenced by islamic scholars from Mali and was the first to accept islam.

That is why the first Mosque was built at Kano. The Fulani Herdsman and scholars played a very Important role in the spread of Islam among the Hausa people including the peasants.

As usual, the traditional pagan practices remained among the local people until the Fulani Jihads of the 19th Century.

Islam in Kanem - Bornu

Islam spread among people of Lake Chad area about the 11th century through the Saifera ruler of Kanem. This was possible due to the influence of traders from the Nile valley and Tripoli in present Libya.

By the 13th century, it was wide spread in the Kanem empire and even when the capital was moved to Bornu, islam was preached by scholars from Mali. Islam had enormous influence on the rulers but the people they ruled were largely pegan for a long time.

During the reign of Mai Idris Alooma, around 16th century Islam was at the peak. Idris introduced civil and administrative reforms based on koranic teachings. However, it was difficult on certain areas where paganism was greatly defended by the rulers.

Islamic practice came to be mixed with pegan practices although Islam became a dominant force. The empires and kingdom rose and collapsed from time to time.

Islam was at its worst during the 17th century and 18th centuries after the Moroccan invasion. It was revived by the Fulani Jihads of the 19th century.

The grassland people of Western Sudan could not penetrate the-forest on the South.

Their Calvary was useless in the dense Equatorial forest. For that reason therefore, Islam did not spread among the forest people of the South. They remained pegans until the arrival of Christianity. This explains why the people of southern Nigeria are Christians.

Results of the spread of Islam

The rulers who undertook pilgrimages to Mecca brought with them technology and scholars from the Moslem world. These influenced and changed the political, economic, and social situations in West Africa.

Islam was a new religion for many where people diverted from their traditional practices and adopted those of Islam such as attending Juma prayers , fasting and pilgrimages to Mecca.

Islam introduced literacy as well as Moslem education for example Arabic language and writing was taught. This made the cities of the Niger to become great centres of learning such as Timbuktu university.

The leaders or rulers employed educated Moslems such as secretaries, administrators and judges. These were conversant with Arabic writing and reading.

Islam helped to unite empires that were made up of people with different races, culture, language and customs. In other wards it brought about different ethnic groups to be one in religion.

The coming of Islam increased and made stronger trading links between west and North Africa to the Arab world and Europe.

Islam gave rise to the growth of small states into large empires. These used the Moslem system of government and laws.

The Sharia law was introduced, this Moslem code of law was taken up by every Moslem leader of a particular state.

The Moslem kings adopted the Moslem systems of justice and taxation. This promoted a more efficient administrative system in these two areas.