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==Dharmic Religions== ==Dharmic Religions==
Ancient ], have been present in Africa before the arrival of Christianity and Islam.<ref>1. Will Durant, The Story of Civilization: Our Oriental Heritage, Part One (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1935), vol. 1, p. 449.</ref><ref name="Maguire">{{cite book | last = Maguire | first = Jack | title = Essential Buddhism | publisher = Simon and Schuster | year = 2001 | pages = 159–160 | isbn = 0-671-04188-6}}</ref><ref name="Edge">{{cite web | last = Brockman | first = John | authorlink = John Brockman (literary agent) | title = The Politics of Christianity: A Talk with Elaine Pagels | work = The Third Culture | publisher = '']'' | date = 2003-07-17 | url = http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/pagels03/pagels_index.html | accessdate = 2009-07-07}}</ref> Today, ], ], ] and ] is growing fast.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:dE9WYJ_OAD8J:www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2007/05/13/the_list_the_worlds_fastest_growing_religions+The+List:+The+World's+Fastest-Growing+Religions&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=opera|title=The List: The World's -Growing Religions|work=Foreign Policy|'''publisher=]|accessdate=5 November 2010}}</ref><ref>http://www.lausanne.org/no/all-documents/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=1231</ref><ref>http://www.ethne.net/general/buddhism-on-rise-in-afric</ref> Mainly as a result of Asian immigration to the continent.<ref>http://www.everyculture.com/Africa-Middle-East/Asians-of-Africa.html</ref> And in recent years, have gained popularity among Africans.<ref>http://www.globalhinduism.com/article/2012/01/hinduism-in-africa/</ref><ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10401741</ref><ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/other-news/Hinduism-spreads-in-Ghana-reaches-Togo/articleshow/10633447.cms</ref>

===Hinduism=== ===Hinduism===
{{Main|Hinduism in Africa}} {{Main|Hinduism in Africa}}
Hinduism is a non-proselytizing religion and was usually not propagated to the same lengths or through the same means as Christianity and Islam. As such, it has mostly been confined to practise by the Indo-African communities of these countries. However, in post-colonial Africa, a small-scale movement for Hinduism and its propagation ''outside'' the Indo-African community has occurred, spearheaded by such individuals as ], the first Hindu ] of ].<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10401741</ref> Today, ] is the only African country with a Hindu majority.<ref name=factbook>{{cite web |url= https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mp.html|title= Mauritius|accessdate=2007-04-25 |work= ]|publisher=]}}</ref> Hinduism is a non-proselytizing religion and was usually not propagated to the same lengths or through the same means as Christianity and Islam. As such, it has mostly been confined to practise by the Indo-African communities of these countries. However, in post-colonial Africa, a small-scale movement for Hinduism and its propagation ''outside'' the Indo-African community has occurred, spearheaded by such individuals as ], the first Hindu ] of ].<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10401741</ref> Today, ] is the only African country with a Hindu majority.<ref name=factbook>{{cite web |url= https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mp.html|title= Mauritius|accessdate=2007-04-25 |work= ]|publisher=]}}</ref>

===Jainism===
{{Main|Jainism}}
The Jain religion has traditionally been confined to the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East and East Africa. However, with immigration policies being liberalised and increasing immigration from India, ] has been rising.<ref>Estimates for the population of Jains differ from just over four million to twelve million due to difficulties of Jain identity, with Jains in some areas counted as a Hindu sect. Many Jains do not return Jainism as their religion on census forms for various reasons such as certain Jain castes considering themselves both Hindu and Jain. There are an estimated 20,000 jains in Africa,(from {{cite book |title=The Jains |last=Dundas |first=Paul |publisher=Routledge |year=2002 |isbn=0-415-26606-8, 9780415266062 |page=354 |page=271 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=5ialKAbIyV4C&pg=PA299&dq=jains+britain#v=onepage&q=jains%20britain&f=false }}) and 5,000 in the rest of Asia.</ref><ref>http://strategyleader.org/profiles/jain.html</ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/List_of_Jain_temples</ref>


===Buddhism=== ===Buddhism===
{{Main|Buddhism in Africa}} {{Main|Buddhism in Africa}}
Before conversion to Christianity and Islam, Buddhism had a minority presence in ancient Africa. During the ], ] sent Buddhist missionaries to Egypt, some of whom established monasteries.<ref name="Bentley 1993">{{cite book |title=Old World Encounters. Cross-cultural contacts and exchanges in pre-modern times |first=Jerry H. |last=Bentley |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1993 |isbn=0-19-507639-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Buddhism Omnibus: Comprising Gautama Buddha, The Dhammapada, and The Philosophy of Religion |author=Iqbal Singh, S. Radhakrishnan, ], |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=USA |date=2004-06-24) |isbn=0-19-566898-7 }}</ref><ref>1. Will Durant, The Story of Civilization: Our Oriental Heritage, Part One (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1935), vol. 1, p. 449.</ref><ref name="Maguire">{{cite book | last = Maguire | first = Jack | title = Essential Buddhism | publisher = Simon and Schuster | year = 2001 | pages = 159–160 | isbn = 0-671-04188-6}}</ref><ref name="Edge">{{cite web | last = Brockman | first = John | authorlink = John Brockman (literary agent) | title = The Politics of Christianity: A Talk with Elaine Pagels | work = The Third Culture | publisher = '']'' | date = 2003-07-17 | url = http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/pagels03/pagels_index.html | accessdate = 2009-07-07}}</ref> Buddhism, as a major world religion, is practiced in Africa. This religion can be traced back to the ] when ] sent Buddhist missionaries to Egypt.<ref name="Bentley 1993">{{cite book |title=Old World Encounters. Cross-cultural contacts and exchanges in pre-modern times |first=Jerry H. |last=Bentley |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1993 |isbn=0-19-507639-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Buddhism Omnibus: Comprising Gautama Buddha, The Dhammapada, and The Philosophy of Religion |author=Iqbal Singh, S. Radhakrishnan, ], |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=USA |date=2004-06-24) |isbn=0-19-566898-7 }}</ref><ref>1. Will Durant, The Story of Civilization: Our Oriental Heritage, Part One (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1935), vol. 1, p. 449.</ref><ref name="Maguire">{{cite book | last = Maguire | first = Jack | title = Essential Buddhism | publisher = Simon and Schuster | year = 2001 | pages = 159–160 | isbn = 0-671-04188-6}}</ref><ref name="Edge">{{cite web | last = Brockman | first = John | authorlink = John Brockman (literary agent) | title = The Politics of Christianity: A Talk with Elaine Pagels | work = The Third Culture | publisher = '']'' | date = 2003-07-17 | url = http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/pagels03/pagels_index.html | accessdate = 2009-07-07}}</ref> <ref name="mountainrunner"></ref><ref></ref>
Most of the Buddhists in Africa, live in ]. Though there have been some conversion amongst Africans, most of the Buddhists in Africa are of Asian descent. ], ], ] and ] people have established Theravada Buddhist temples in various African countries.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/Tanzania_Buddhist_Temple_and_Meditation_Center</ref><ref>http://backup.home.co.ke/index.php/religion-and-spirituality/210-buddhism</ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/Category:Buddhist_temples_in_Africa</ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/List_of_Buddhist_temples#Ghana</ref> One of the very few monastics of African descent is Ven. Bhante Buddharakkhita from Uganda, founder of ]. There have also been cases of some high profile celebrities converting to Buddhism such as Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, a famous actor of Nigerian descent.<ref>http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/interviews/19172-60-seconds-adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje</ref>
Buddhism, as a major world religion, is practiced in Africa.{{cn|date=July 2012}}

===Sikhi===
Sikhs have been migrating to East Africa since the 1890's.<ref>http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/heritage/sikhhert%20EAfrica/sikhsEAfrica.htm</ref> ] is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world with over 30 million Sikhs, and one of the most steadily growing.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/misc/rel_by_adh_CSM.html</ref><ref>http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:dE9WYJ_OAD8J:www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2007/05/13/the_list_the_worlds_fastest_growing_religions+The+List:+The+World's+Fastest-Growing+Religions&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=opera</ref> Today there are various Gurdwaras in Africa.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/Gurdwaras_in_Africa</ref>


==East Asian religions== ==East Asian religions==
] are mainly practiced by the Chinese, but also some Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese people. With increasing immigration of workers from ] and ], some of them have brought their religions to the continent. ] also called ], form a subset of the wider ]. It is mainly followed by the Chinese, but also some Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese people. With increasing immigration of workers from ] and ], many of them have brought their religions to the continent.

===Taoism===
Taoism (modernly: Daoism) is a philosophical and religious tradition mainly practiced by the ], ], ] and ] people. Chinese Taoist clergy is organizing missionary systems to spread the spirituality around the world.<ref>http://www.arcworld.org/downloads/SCMP%20Daoism%2030%20April%202007.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2009-11/11/content_18869841.htm</ref><ref>http://www.southafricalogue.com/features/chinese-missionaries-find-a-niche-in-south-africa.html</ref> The number of Daoists followers is difficult to determine due to many Daoists practicing ] which contains Daoism.<ref>http://www.religionfacts.com/taoism/index.htm</ref><ref>http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_624.html</ref><ref>http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=468&Itemid=206</ref>


===Confucianism===
With an increasing ] population in Africa, the number of ] has risen.<ref>http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KH07Ad03.html</ref> The Chinese have established Confucius institues all over Africa to bridge the cultural gap between China and Africa.<ref>http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20100905072629973</ref> With an increasing ] population in Africa, the number of ] has risen.<ref>http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KH07Ad03.html</ref> The Chinese have established Confucius institues all over Africa to bridge the cultural gap between China and Africa.<ref>http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KH07Ad03.html</ref><ref>http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20100905072629973</ref>


===Shinto===
] has a small presence in Africa, mainly among the ].<ref>http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2009/127235.htm</ref> ] has a small presence in Africa, mainly among the ].<ref>http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2009/127235.htm</ref><ref>http://www.ghanavisions.com/articles/16648-shintoism.html</ref>


==Syncretism== ==Syncretism==

Revision as of 22:48, 25 July 2012

Map showing the modern continental distribution of the major faiths and religious beliefs. Denominations or sects are excluded.

Religion in Africa is multifaceted and has been a major influence on art, culture and philosophy. The continent's various populations and individuals are mostly adherents of Christianity or Islam. Others practice traditional and folk religions. In the countryside, religious beliefs are also often characterized by syncretism with local traditions.

African traditional religion

Main article: African traditional religion
Early 20th century Yorubadivination board
Voodoo altar in Abomey, Benin

Africa encompasses a wide variety of traditional beliefs. Although religious customs are sometimes shared by many local societies, they are usually unique to specific populations or geographic regions.

According to Dr J Omosade Awolalu, The "traditional" in this context means indigenous, that which is foundational, handed down from generation to generation, meant as to be upheld and practised today and forevermore. A heritage from the past, yet not treated as a thing of the past but that which connects the past with the present and the present with eternity.

Often spoken of in the terms of a singularity, deliberate; yet conscious of the fact that Africa is a large continent with multitudes of nations who have complexed cultures, innumerable languages and myriads of dialects.

The essence of this school of thought is based mainly on oral trasmission; that which is written in people's hearts, minds, oral history, customs, temples and religious functions.

It has no founders or stand-out reformer like Gautama the Buddha, Christos, Ashoka, Christ or Muhammed. It is not a religion of one specific hero.

It has no missionaries or even the intention to propagate or to proselytise.

Some of the African traditional religions include Yoruba, Serer and Igbo religion.

Abrahamic religions

The majority of Africans are adherents of Christianity or Islam. African people often combine the practice of their traditional belief with the practice of imported Abrahamic religions. Abrahamic religions are widespread throughout Africa. They have both spread at the expense of indigenous African religions, but are often adapted to African cultural contexts and belief systems. It was estimated in 2002 that Christians form 40% of Africa's population, with Muslims forming 45%.

Bahá'í Faith

Main article: Bahá'í Faith in Africa
Bahá'í House of Worship, Kampala, Uganda.

The Bahá'í Faith in Africa has a diverse history. It is the 3rd most widespread organized Abrahamic religion in Africa after Islam and Christianity after its wide-scale growth in the 1950s and extend in the 1960s. The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia) lists many large and smaller populations in Africa with Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa and Zambia among the top ten numerical populations of Bahá'ís in the world in 2005 (each with over 200,000 adherents), and Mauritius in terms of percentage of the national population.

All three individual heads of the religion, Bahá'u'lláh, `Abdu'l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi, were in Africa at various times. More recently the roughly 2000 Bahá'ís of Egypt have been embroiled in the Egyptian identification card controversy from 2006 through 2009. Since then there have been homes burned down and families driven out of towns. On the other hand Sub-Saharan Bahá'ís were able to mobilize for nine regional conferences called for by the Universal House of Justice 20 October 2008 to celebrate recent achievements in grassroots community-building and to plan their next steps in organizing in their home areas.

Christianity

Main article: Christianity in Africa
The Hanging Church of Cairo, Egypt.

Christianity is now one of the two most widely practised religions in Africa and is the largest religion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most adherents outside Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea are Roman Catholic or Protestant. Several syncretistic and messianic sects have formed throughout much of the continent, including the Nazareth Baptist Church in South Africa and the Aladura churches in Nigeria.There is also fairly widespread populations of Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses. However, the oldest Christian denominations in Africa are the Coptic church in Egypt and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, all Oriental Orthodox, which rose to prominence in the fourth century AD after King Ezana the Great made Ethiopia one of the first Christian nations.

In the first few centuries of Christianity, Africa produced many figures who had a major influence outside the continent, including St Augustine of Hippo, St Maurice, Origen, Tertullian, and three Roman Catholic popes (Victor I, Miltiades and Gelasius I), as well as the Biblical characters Simon of Cyrene and the Ethiopian eunuch baptised by Philip the Evangelist.

Christianity existed in Ethiopia before the rule of King Ezana the Great of the Kingdom of Axum, but the religion took a strong foot hold when it was declared a state religion in 330 AD, becoming one of the first Christian nations. The earliest and best known reference to the introduction of Christianity to Africa is mentioned in the Christian Bible's Acts of the Apostles, and pertains to the evangelist Phillip's conversion of an Ethiopian traveler in the 1st Century AD. Although the Bible refers to them as Ethiopians, scholars have argued that Ethiopia was a common term encompassing the area South-Southeast of Egypt.

Other traditions have the convert as a Jew who was a steward in the Queen’s court. All accounts do agree on the fact that the traveler was a member of the royal court who successfully succeeded in converting the Queen, which in turn caused a church to be built. Tyrannius Rufinus, a noted church historian, also recorded a personal account as do other church historians such as Socrates and Sozemius.

Some experts predict the shift of Christianity's center of gravity from the European industrialized nations to Africa and Asia in modern times. Yale University historian Lamin Sanneh stated, that "African Christianity was not just an exotic, curious phenomenon in an obscure part of the world, but that African Christianity might be the shape of things to come." The statistics from the World Christian Encyclopedia (David Barrett) illustrate the emerging trend of dramatic Christian growth on the continent and supposes, that in 2025 there will be 633 million Christians in Africa.

Islam

Main article: Islam in Africa
The Great Mosque of Kairouan, erected in 670 by the Arab general Uqba Ibn Nafi, is the oldest mosque in North Africa, Kairouan, Tunisia.
Abuja National Mosque in Nigeria.

According to the World Book Encyclopedia, Islam is the largest religion in Africa, with 47% of the population being Muslim, accounting for 1/4 of the world's Muslim population. The faith's historic roots on the continent stem from the time of the Prophet Muhammad, whose early disciples migrated to Abyssinia (hijira) in fear of persecution from the pagan Arabs.

The spread of Islam in North Africa came with the invasion of Egypt under Caliph Umar, through the Sinai Peninsula - followed by the rapid conquest of North Africa by the Arab armies. Islam in West Africa was through Islamic traders and sailors.

Islam is the dominant religion in North Africa and the Horn of Africa. It has also become the predominant religion on the Swahili Coast as well as the West African seaboard and parts of the interior. 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 Mansa Musa, Sonni Ali and Askia Mohammed.

Judaism

Main article: African Jews

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.

Irreligion / agnostic / atheism

A Gallup poll shows that the irreligious amount to 20% in South Africa, 16% in Botswana, 13% in Mozambique, 13% in Togo, 12% in Libya and Cote D'ivoire, 11% in Guyana, 10% in Ethiopia and Angola, 9% in Sudan, Zimbabwe and Algeria, 8% in Namibia and 7% in Madagascar.

Dharmic Religions

Ancient Indian religions, have been present in Africa before the arrival of Christianity and Islam. Today, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism is growing fast. Mainly as a result of Asian immigration to the continent. And in recent years, have gained popularity among Africans.

Hinduism

Main article: Hinduism in Africa

Hinduism is a non-proselytizing religion and was usually not propagated to the same lengths or through the same means as Christianity and Islam. As such, it has mostly been confined to practise by the Indo-African communities of these countries. However, in post-colonial Africa, a small-scale movement for Hinduism and its propagation outside the Indo-African community has occurred, spearheaded by such individuals as Swami Ghanananda, the first Hindu swami of Ghana. Today, Mauritius is the only African country with a Hindu majority.

Jainism

Main article: Jainism

The Jain religion has traditionally been confined to the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East and East Africa. However, with immigration policies being liberalised and increasing immigration from India, Jainism has been rising.

Buddhism

Main article: Buddhism in Africa

Buddhism, as a major world religion, is practiced in Africa. This religion can be traced back to the Mauryan Empire when Ashoka the Great sent Buddhist missionaries to Egypt. Most of the Buddhists in Africa, live in South Africa. Though there have been some conversion amongst Africans, most of the Buddhists in Africa are of Asian descent. Sinhalese, Burmese, Thai and Cambodian people have established Theravada Buddhist temples in various African countries. One of the very few monastics of African descent is Ven. Bhante Buddharakkhita from Uganda, founder of The Uganda Buddhist Centre. There have also been cases of some high profile celebrities converting to Buddhism such as Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, a famous actor of Nigerian descent.

Sikhi

Sikhs have been migrating to East Africa since the 1890's. Sikhism is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world with over 30 million Sikhs, and one of the most steadily growing. Today there are various Gurdwaras in Africa.

East Asian religions

Taoic religions also called Far eastern religions, form a subset of the wider Eastern religions. It is mainly followed by the Chinese, but also some Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese people. With increasing immigration of workers from East Asia and Vietnam, many of them have brought their religions to the continent.

Taoism

Taoism (modernly: Daoism) is a philosophical and religious tradition mainly practiced by the Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese people. Chinese Taoist clergy is organizing missionary systems to spread the spirituality around the world. The number of Daoists followers is difficult to determine due to many Daoists practicing Chinese folk religion which contains Daoism.

Confucianism

With an increasing East Asian population in Africa, the number of Confucianists has risen. The Chinese have established Confucius institues all over Africa to bridge the cultural gap between China and Africa.

Shinto

Kami-no-michi has a small presence in Africa, mainly among the Japanese diaspora.

Syncretism

Syncretism is the combining of different (often contradictory) beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. In the commonwealth of Africa syncretism with indigenous beliefs is practiced throughout the region. It is believed by some to explain religious tolerance between different groups. Kwesi Yankah and John Mbiti argue that many African peoples today have a 'mixed' religious heritage to try to reconcile traditional religions with Abrahamic faiths. Jesse Mugambi claims that the Christianity taught to Africans by missionaries had a fear of syncretism, which was carried on by current African Christian leadership in an attempt to keep Christianity "pure." Syncretism in Africa is said by others to be overstated, and due to a misunderstanding of the abilities to of local populations to form their own orthodoxieto s and also confusion over what is culture and what is religion. Others state that the term syncretism is an elusive, since it can be applied to refer to substitution or modification of the central elements of Christianity or Islam with beliefs or practices from somewhere else. The consequences under this definition, according to missiologist Keith Ferdinando, are a fatal compromise of the religion's integrity. However, communities in Africa (e.g. Afro-Asiatic) have many common practices which are also found in Abrahamic faiths, and thus these traditions do not fall under the category of some definitions of syncretism.

Religious distribution

Country Christianity
% of total population
Islam
% of total population
Traditional religions
and other
% of total population
Source
- Central Africa -
 Angola 95 0.5 4.5
 Cameroon 69.2 20.9 9.9
 Central African Republic 80.3 10.1 9.6
 Chad 34 53 13
 Democratic Republic of the Congo 95.6 1.5 2.9
 Republic of the Congo 90.7 1.3 8
 Equatorial Guinea 93 1 6
 Gabon 73 10 17
 São Tomé and Príncipe 97 2 1
- East Africa -
 Burundi 75 5 20
 Comoros 2 98 0
 Kenya 78 10 12
 Madagascar 41 7 52
 Malawi 79.9 12.8 7.3
 Mauritius 32.2 16.6 51.2
 Mayotte 3 97 0
 Mozambique 56.1 17.9 26
 Réunion 84.9 2.1 13
 Rwanda 93.6 4.6 1.8
 Seychelles 93.1 1.1 5.8
 Tanzania 30 35 35
 Uganda 84 12 4
 Zambia 87 1 12
- Horn of Africa -
 Djibouti 6 94 0
 Eritrea 62.5 36.5 1
 Ethiopia 62.8 33.9 3.3
 Somalia 0 100 0
- North Africa -
 Algeria 1 99 0
 Egypt 10 90 0
 Libya 1 97 2
 Morocco 1.1 98.7 0.2
 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic 0 100 0
 South Sudan 50 0 50 ?
 Sudan 3 97 0
 Tunisia 1 98 1
- Southern Africa -
 Botswana 71.6 0.3 28.1
 Lesotho 90 0 10
 Namibia 90 0 10
 South Africa 79.7 1.5 18.8
 Swaziland 90 1 9
 Zimbabwe 84 1 15
- West Africa -
 Benin 42.8 24.4 32.8
 Burkina Faso 23 61 16
 Cape Verde 99 0 1
 Côte d'Ivoire 37.5 37.5 25.0
 Gambia 9 90 1
 Ghana 69 15.6 15.4
 Guinea 10 85 5
 Guinea-Bissau 10 50 40
 Liberia 85.6 12.2 2.2
 Mali 5 90 5
 Mauritania 0 100 0
 Niger 5 90 5
 Nigeria 48.2 50.4 1.4
 Senegal 5 94 1
 Sierra Leone 21 77 2
 Togo 48 14 38
  1. The most recent census data are used.

See also


References

  1. Restless Spirits: Syncretic Religion Yolanda Pierce, Ph.D. Associate Professor of African American Religion & Literature
  2. Restless Spirits: Syncretic Religion Yolanda Pierce, Ph.D. Associate Professor of African American Religion & Literature
  3. Religion In Africa And The Diaspora: African Belief System
  4. ^ Dr J.O. Awolalu, Studies in Comparative Religion Vol. 10, No. 2. (Spring, 1976).
  5. Cheikh Anta Diop The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality, Chicago, L.Hill, 1974. ISBN 1-55652-072-7
  6. Leo Frobenius on African History, Art, and Culture: An Anthology, 2007] ISBN 1-55876-425-9
  7. Bolaji Idowu African Traditional Religion: A Definition, Maryknoll, N.Y., Orbis Books (1973) ISBN 0-88344-005-9
  8. J S MbitiAfrican Religions and Philosophy, African Writers Series, Heinemann (1990). ISBN 0-435-89591-5
  9. Introduction to African religion. ISBN 9780435940027.When Africans are converted to other religions, they often mix their traditional religion with the one to which they are converted.
  10. Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices: Religions and denominations. p. 1. ISBN 9780787666125.Although a large proportion of Africans have converted to Islam an Christianity, these two world religions have been assimilated into African culture, and many African Christians and Muslims maintain traditional spriritual beliefs
  11. Introduction to African religion. ISBN 9780435940027.When Africans are converted to other religions, they often mix their traditional religion with the one to which they are converted.
  12. The Oxford handbook of religion and ecology. ISBN 9780195178722.Even in the adopted religions of Islam and Christianity, which on the surface appear to have converted millions of Africans from their traditional religions, many aspect of traditional religions are still manifest
  13. "US study sheds light on Africa's unique religious mix". AFP.t doesn't seem to be an either-or for many people. They can describe themselves primarily as Muslim or Christian and continue to practice many of the traditions that are characteristic of African traditional religion," Luis Lugo, executive director of the Pew Forum, told AFP.
  14. In Transitions and consolidation of democracy in Africa. ISBN 9781586840402.Even though the two religions are monotheistic, most African Christians and Muslims convert to them and still retain some aspects of their traditional religions
  15. Encyclopædia Britannica. Britannica Book of the Year 2003. Encyclopædia Britannica, (2003) ISBN 9780852299562 p.306
    According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, 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: Blackwell Publishers, 1996.) 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, as being an outlier. On rates of growth, Islam and Pentecostal Christianity are highest, see: The List: The World’s Fastest-Growing Religions, Foreign Policy, May 2007.
  16. Lee, Anthony A. (1997). "The Baha'i Church of Calabar, West Africa: The Problem of Levels in Religious History". Occasional Papers in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Studies. 01 (06). {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  17. "Overview Of World Religions". General Essay on the Religions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Division of Religion and Philosophy, University of Cumbria. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  18. "Most Baha'i Nations (2005)". QuickLists > Compare Nations > Religions >. The Association of Religion Data Archives. 2005. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  19. El-Hennawy, Noha (September 2006). "The Fourth Faith?". Egypt Today.
  20. Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (2006-12-16). "Government Must Find Solution for Baha'i Egyptians". eipr.org. Archived from the original on 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
  21. Gonn, Adam (2009-02-24). "Victory In Court For Egyptian Baha'i". Cairo, Egypt: AHN. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  22. Reuters (2009-04-03). "Baha`i Homes Attacked in Egypt Village". Egypt: Javno.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  23. "Regional Conferences of the Five Year Plan; November 2008–March 2009". Bahá’í International Community. 2009. Retrieved 3–21–2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  24. http://www.kebranegast.com Kebra Negast
  25. Gayraud S. Wilmore, Pragmatic spirituality: the Christian faith through an Africentric lens. NYU Press. 2004. page 105
  26. Hansberry, William Leo. Pillars in Ethiopian History; the William Leo Hansberry African History Notebook. Washington: Howard University Press, 1934.
  27. Historian Ahead of His Time, Christianity Today Magazine, February 2007
  28. World Council of Churches Report, August 2004
  29. Hans Kung, Tracing the Way : Spiritual Dimensions of the World Religions. Continuum International Publishing Group. 2006. page 248
  30. Encyclopædia Britannica. Britannica Book of the Year 2003. Encyclopædia Britannica, (2003) ISBN 978-0-85229-956-2 p.306
    According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, 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.) 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. 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, as being an outlier. On rates of growth, Islam and Pentecostal Christianity are highest, see: The List: The World’s Fastest-Growing Religions, Foreign Policy, May 2007.
  31. http://www.islamandafrica.com Islam And Africa
  32. GALLUP WorldView - data accessed on 14 September 2011
  33. 1. Will Durant, The Story of Civilization: Our Oriental Heritage, Part One (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1935), vol. 1, p. 449.
  34. ^ Maguire, Jack (2001). Essential Buddhism. Simon and Schuster. pp. 159–160. ISBN 0-671-04188-6.
  35. ^ Brockman, John (2003-07-17). "The Politics of Christianity: A Talk with Elaine Pagels". The Third Culture. Edge Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 2009-07-07. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. "The List: The World's -Growing Religions". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 5 November 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publisher= ignored (help)
  37. http://www.lausanne.org/no/all-documents/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=1231
  38. http://www.ethne.net/general/buddhism-on-rise-in-afric
  39. http://www.everyculture.com/Africa-Middle-East/Asians-of-Africa.html
  40. http://www.globalhinduism.com/article/2012/01/hinduism-in-africa/
  41. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10401741
  42. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/other-news/Hinduism-spreads-in-Ghana-reaches-Togo/articleshow/10633447.cms
  43. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10401741
  44. "Mauritius". World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
  45. Estimates for the population of Jains differ from just over four million to twelve million due to difficulties of Jain identity, with Jains in some areas counted as a Hindu sect. Many Jains do not return Jainism as their religion on census forms for various reasons such as certain Jain castes considering themselves both Hindu and Jain. There are an estimated 20,000 jains in Africa,(from Dundas, Paul (2002). The Jains. Routledge. p. 271. ISBN 0-415-26606-8, 9780415266062. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)) and 5,000 in the rest of Asia.
  46. http://strategyleader.org/profiles/jain.html
  47. http://en.wikipedia.org/List_of_Jain_temples
  48. Bentley, Jerry H. (1993). Old World Encounters. Cross-cultural contacts and exchanges in pre-modern times. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507639-7.
  49. Iqbal Singh, S. Radhakrishnan, Arvind Sharma, (2004-06-24)). The Buddhism Omnibus: Comprising Gautama Buddha, The Dhammapada, and The Philosophy of Religion. USA: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-566898-7. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  50. 1. Will Durant, The Story of Civilization: Our Oriental Heritage, Part One (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1935), vol. 1, p. 449.
  51. Hellenic Buddhism and Buddhist Christianity
  52. The Lotus and the Cross
  53. http://en.wikipedia.org/Tanzania_Buddhist_Temple_and_Meditation_Center
  54. http://backup.home.co.ke/index.php/religion-and-spirituality/210-buddhism
  55. http://en.wikipedia.org/Category:Buddhist_temples_in_Africa
  56. http://en.wikipedia.org/List_of_Buddhist_temples#Ghana
  57. http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/interviews/19172-60-seconds-adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje
  58. http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/heritage/sikhhert%20EAfrica/sikhsEAfrica.htm
  59. http://www.adherents.com/misc/rel_by_adh_CSM.html
  60. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:dE9WYJ_OAD8J:www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2007/05/13/the_list_the_worlds_fastest_growing_religions+The+List:+The+World's+Fastest-Growing+Religions&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=opera
  61. http://en.wikipedia.org/Gurdwaras_in_Africa
  62. http://www.arcworld.org/downloads/SCMP%20Daoism%2030%20April%202007.pdf
  63. http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2009-11/11/content_18869841.htm
  64. http://www.southafricalogue.com/features/chinese-missionaries-find-a-niche-in-south-africa.html
  65. http://www.religionfacts.com/taoism/index.htm
  66. http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_624.html
  67. http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=468&Itemid=206
  68. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KH07Ad03.html
  69. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KH07Ad03.html
  70. http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20100905072629973
  71. http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2009/127235.htm
  72. http://www.ghanavisions.com/articles/16648-shintoism.html
  73. Howard-Hassmann, Rhoda E. (1986). Human rights in Commonwealth Africa. G - Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series; Human Rights in Commonwealth Africa. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-8476-7433-6.
  74. {Peek, Philip M; Yankah, Kwesi, eds. (2004). African folklore: an encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. p. various. ISBN 978-0-415-93933-1 http://books.google.ca/books?id=pOcWLGktIYoC&pg=PA254#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 3–21–2012. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  75. Mbiti, John S. (1992). Introduction to African religion (2nd ed.). East African Publishers. p. 15. ISBN 978-9966-46-928-1.
  76. http://books.google.co.za/books?id=qyy-UXydibwC&pg=PA60&lpg=PA60&dq=mbiti+syncretism&source=bl&ots=0QyGmgWvCF&sig=gmgMWVMmSD5A7BpzEAGyCM9piTg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=a1IUT4ezIofPhAf_45HAAg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=mbiti%20syncretism&f=false Critiques of Christianity in African literature - Jesse Ndwiga Kanyua Mugambi : 9966465804
  77. Mugambi, Jesse Ndwiga Kanyua (1992). Critiques of Christianity in African literature: with particular reference to the East African context. East African Publishers. p. 60. ISBN 978-9966-46-580-1.
  78. Islam And Africa
  79. Black God : the Afroasiatic roots of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religions - Julian Baldick

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