Between the eighth and ninth centuries, Arab traders and travelers began to disseminate the religion along the eastern coast of Africa and to the western and central Sudan, fostering the development of urban communities. The first converts were typically Sudanese merchants, followed by some rulers and courtiers, with the masses of rural peasants being less affected initially¹.
The Almoravid intervention in the eleventh century, led by Berber nomads who were strict observers of Islamic law, gave a new momentum to the conversion process in the Ghana empire and beyond. The spread of Islam throughout the African continent was neither simultaneous nor uniform, but rather followed a gradual and adaptive path¹.
In addition to the spread of religious beliefs, Islam brought new cultural and technological advancements to Africa, such as the art of writing and new techniques of weighing. Cities like Timbuktu flourished as commercial and intellectual centers, with a significant number of Muslim scholars by the sixteenth century being of Sudanese origin¹.
On the Swahili Coast, interactions with Arab and Persian traders from the seventh century onwards facilitated the growth of Islam and led to the establishment of notable Sultanates and Dynasties. The lucrative Indian Ocean trade helped these city-states to thrive and become significant Islamic centers².
Overall, the efforts of traders and proselytizers were instrumental in the spread of Islam in Africa, shaping the religious, cultural, and socio-economic landscape of the continent.
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