Why/how is it that Islam is no longer Africa's main religion? It used to be for centuries, but not so much today, why?

Christianity and indigenous religions form the bulk of the african continent's population today, unlike in the 1600s, where 60% of Africa was Muslim. Today, only 40-45% is. Why is that?

Asked by newby 22 months ago Similar questions: Islam longer Africa's main religion centuries today Society > Religion & Spirituality.

Similar questions: Islam longer Africa's main religion centuries today.

The reputable data sources I found online indicate that: Islam is the most populous religion in Africa Islam’s population growth in Africa--notably sub-Saharan Africa--is such that I would characterize it as on the rise. Having said this, I should point out (what you probably already know) that accurate population statistics of religious afficliation in Africa is not yet fully available. This means that current estimates have a significant error function, saying nothing of estimates from several centuries ago.

There is no question in my mind that Christian missionary initiatives, in part historically tied to European colonialism, have been very successful in parts of Africa. However, it would be incorrect to imply that it has overtaken Islam; and, I have found no respected source that shows a significantly higher birthrate among Christian as opposed to Muslim Africans. In fact, the growth of religions--e.g. , Islam and Christianity--in Africa owes more of its success to high African birthrates than to any innate religious recruitment successes. Sources: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=519403 ; http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS22873.pdf ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Africa ; http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html Google Map View Larger Map .

1 If you are reviewing my appeal, note that I also provided 5 additional answers to 7 related Qs by the Asker via PMs. Since there was nothing personal to these PMs, I provide them here as additional input to my appeal. They are numbered and pasted in in reverse order.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A5-Curious7777777-->Newby:I believe this is in the article. You might want to conduct your follow up Q&A on the DB so others can participate. You may be interested in their views as well.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q5-Newby-->Curious7777777:Does north africa or sub saharan Africa have higher birth rates overall? Are half of all African Muslism in North Africa?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A4-Curious7777777-->Newby:I trust you've read the cited articles I provided you. Birthrate will be a driving factor."...One striking implication of this growth is that there will be a great religious revolution, as Africa becomes the home of monotheism.

By midcentury, sub-Saharan Africa is likely to be the demographic center of Islam, home to as many Muslims as Asia and to far more than inhabit the Middle East. The non-Arab Muslim countries of Africa—Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal—constitute the one region of the Islamic world where birthrates remain high.In several of these countries, the average woman will have upward of five children in her lifetime. Christianity will also feel the effects of Africa’s growth.

By 2025, there will be as many Christians in sub-Saharan Africa—some 640 million—as in South America. By 2050, it is almost certain that most of the world’s Christians will live in Africa. As Kenyan scholar John Mbiti writes, “The centers of the church’s universality are no longer in Geneva, Rome, Athens, Paris, London, New York, but Kinshasa, Buenos Aires, Addis Ababa, and Manila.”..."This is from the first link. The second link shared data that says about 45% of the population is Muslim. That implies that 55% of the population is not Muslim, including Christians, and followers of indigenous religions.

However, the key to the future is to examine what is happening to birthrates in sub-Saharan Africa.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q4-Newby-->Curious7777777:SO then today, would you say that Christianity and Animism together outnumber Islam? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A3-Curious7777777-->Newby:The website you are providing says that 47% of the African population is Muslim, not 33%. I see nothing at this link about the population in 1600.

I believe Muslim population has been increasing at varying rates since the 7th Century, not decreasing. But, of course, I have no data to prove it. Similarly, I see no data to justify a claim that Muslims a smaller share of the African continent today than before.It is important to separate out conjecture from substantiated fact or at least scholarly estimates.

When I answer Qs in AV, I do my best with documented, respected online sources to provide fact...not conjecture. Wikipedia alone isn't an acceptable source. I provided you with a couple other respected sources.

Unfortunately none of these has historical data to show a trend over the centuries. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q3-Newby-->Curious7777777:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Africa#Shari.27a_law_in_AfricaAlthough there is no specific data on the total Muslim population in Africa, experts believe that there are approximately 300 million African Muslims, which comprises roughly one-third of the African continent’s population.1thus, if 33% of Africans are Muslim, which is 1/3 of the total population, then aren;t 66% non muslims? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A2-Curious7777777-->Newby:Can you share the source link for the 60%?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q2-Newby-->Curious7777777:oka I gotcha, but christianity and animism together make up 45-50% of african religions now and Islam 40-45%, while one time, it was 60%. Why has it gone down from the past? Also, which has a higher birth rate as a region overall: sub saharan africa or north africa?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A1abc-Curious7777777-->Newby:Dear newby,Thanks for the links.

I still stand by my answer. My first 2 sources are scholarly links, not links to blogs on the web. While I too read Wikipedia, it isn't credible as a source without going back to a footnoted source.

As to the conversion of African Muslims to Christianity, I am sure conversion takes place. I am actually confident it takes place both ways. I don't have sufficient data to know what the net shift due to conversion is.

The article you cited pointed out that Muslim intellectuals are converting. I can understand that in an environment unlike the US where one is either a strict Muslim or not a Muslim. But, in the scheme of things, I don't think Muslim intellectuals are going to matter one way or the other in terms of demographics.

The large growth in African Muslims is going to come from a segment that is probably non-intellectual, if not illiterate. In 3rd World Nations, many people convert to religions put forth by missionaries to obtain economic compensation--education for children, food for children, candy, etc.This means that a poor Muslim might be quite willing to convert to Christianity...and vice versa. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q1c-Newby-->Curious7777777:What about this site here?

Is it not somewhat true on islam and africans? http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/muslims-leaving-islam-in-droves/Islam used to represent … Africa’s main religion and there were 30 African languages that used to be written in Arabic script. The number of Muslims in Africa has diminished to 316 million, half of whom are Arabs in North Africa. So in the section of Africa that we are talking about, the non-Arab section, the number of Muslims does not exceed 150 million people.

When we realize that the entire population of Africa is one billion people, we see that the number of Muslims has diminished greatly from what it was in the beginning of the last century. On the other hand, the number of Catholics has increased from one million in 1902 to 329 million 882 thousand (329,882,000). Let us round off that number to 330 million in the year 2000.

As to how that happened, well there are now 1.5 million churches whose congregations account for 46 million people.In every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity. Everyday, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. Every year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity.

These numbers are very large indeed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q1b-Newby-->Curious7777777:What about this link here saying muslim africans convert to christianity? Is this why islam is not the major religion there anymore:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdVnILalpeo--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q1a-Newby-->Curious7777777:Overall, christianity and animism have together become close in numbers with islam or have outnumbered it, see here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa#ReligionAfricans profess a wide variety of religious beliefs81 and statistics on religious affiliation are difficult to come by since they are too sensitive a topic for governments with mixed populations.82 According to the World Book Encyclopedia, Islam is the largest religion in Africa, followed by Christianity.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, 45% of the population are Muslims, 40% are Christians and less than 15% are non-religious or follow African religions. A small number of Africans are Baha'i, or have beliefs from the Judaic tradition. Examples of African Jews are the Beta Israel, Lemba peoples and the Abayudaya of Eastern Uganda.

If you are reviewing my appeal, note that I also provided 5 additional answers to 7 related Qs by the Asker via PMs. Since there was nothing personal to these PMs, I provide them here as additional input to my appeal. They are numbered and pasted in in reverse order.