Islam in Sierra Leone
Encyclopedia
Sierra Leone last conducted a census in 2008 and estimates there are 4,059,000 Muslims in Sierra Leone
. This suggests 71% of the country's total population is muslim. There are 18 ethnic groups in the country, the two largest being the Temne and Mende
. The Temnes are the main tribe in the north and are predominantly Muslim. At least nine of Sierra Leone's sixteen ethnic groups are predominantly Muslim.
In the early 18th century Fulani
and Mande
-speaking tribesmen from the Fouta Djallon
region of present-day Guinea
converted many Temne of northern Sierra Leone
to Islam
. During the period of British
colonization, attempts to spread Christianity were mostly ineffective. Moslems in Sierras Leone had worked in peace and operated widespread trading networks for the region. The Europeans broke down the traditional structures of society, introduced new educational and social ideas, introduced Sierra Leone to slavery and 'opened' the country to exploitation, attracting migrant Africans to growing cities. As the moslem traditions of an 'open' society provided a form of authority and an expression of cohesion among displaced peoples through common places of prayer and a common prayer book, the KORAN. Islam also continued to spread after independence in 1961; in 1960 the Muslim population was 35 percent and grew to 60 percent by 2000. It is difficult for people from Sierra Leone to travel to Mecca for the Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, due to the distance between the two places and the cost of getting there. Recent turbulences in Sierra Leone relate mostly to efforts to bring 'global' ideologies to Sierra Leone in dogmatic efforts to align the country and its people to the 'super power' agenda ( whose side are you 'on' argument ). The side's are of course represented in the UN Security Council ((China , France , Russia , UK and the US )(rest-of-the-world)) . The people of Sierra Leone have long sought to find a voice within the non-aligned movement.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. This suggests 71% of the country's total population is muslim. There are 18 ethnic groups in the country, the two largest being the Temne and Mende
Mende people
The Mende people are one of the two largest and most dominant ethnic group in Sierra Leone, along with the Temne. The Mende make up 30% of Sierra Leone's total population or 1,932,015 members...
. The Temnes are the main tribe in the north and are predominantly Muslim. At least nine of Sierra Leone's sixteen ethnic groups are predominantly Muslim.
In the early 18th century Fulani
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
and Mande
Mande
Mande may refer to:* Mandé peoples of western Africa* Mande languages* Manding, a term covering a subgroup of Mande peoples, and sometimes used for one of them, Mandinka* Garo people of northeastern India and northern Bangladesh...
-speaking tribesmen from the Fouta Djallon
Fouta Djallon
Fouta Djallon is a highland region in the centre of Guinea, West Africa. The indigenous name is Fuuta-Jaloo...
region of present-day Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
converted many Temne of northern Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. During the period of British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
colonization, attempts to spread Christianity were mostly ineffective. Moslems in Sierras Leone had worked in peace and operated widespread trading networks for the region. The Europeans broke down the traditional structures of society, introduced new educational and social ideas, introduced Sierra Leone to slavery and 'opened' the country to exploitation, attracting migrant Africans to growing cities. As the moslem traditions of an 'open' society provided a form of authority and an expression of cohesion among displaced peoples through common places of prayer and a common prayer book, the KORAN. Islam also continued to spread after independence in 1961; in 1960 the Muslim population was 35 percent and grew to 60 percent by 2000. It is difficult for people from Sierra Leone to travel to Mecca for the Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, due to the distance between the two places and the cost of getting there. Recent turbulences in Sierra Leone relate mostly to efforts to bring 'global' ideologies to Sierra Leone in dogmatic efforts to align the country and its people to the 'super power' agenda ( whose side are you 'on' argument ). The side's are of course represented in the UN Security Council ((China , France , Russia , UK and the US )(rest-of-the-world)) . The people of Sierra Leone have long sought to find a voice within the non-aligned movement.