Acknowledgments and Dedication

Please see Data Set.

Resource for Historic Comparison

Click here to access a map by montage by [a] Matthew White that shows the evolving story of religious adherence in Africa. This map montage provides a backdrop for effective comparison of the changes that have happened in the African religious sphere

over the last 110 years. Used in conjunction with Maps 1-4, 8 and 11, one can extrapolate the evolution of religious adherence on the continent, not least with regards to the three main religions practiced in Africa: Christianity, Islam and Traditional Religion/Animism.

Round Up of Interesting Religious Facts About Africa

Largest Church Building: Faith Tabernacle, Ota, Nigeria (largest in the world)

Largest Catholic Cathedral: Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire (largest in the world)

Largest Mosque: Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco

Countries with no known Traditional Religion/Animism: Djibouti and São Tomé and Principe

Total Population of Jews in Eritrea: 1 (Male; advanced in years)

Most Religiously Diverse Country (Based on data gathered): Ghana

Note on Nigeria: Nigeria is generally perceived as divided into  two distinct religious zones: a Christian 

South and a Muslim North. This is, however, a fallacious  over-simplification of a rather diverse reality, as strong 

Islamic zones abound in the south, especially in the Yoruba‐dominated southwestern heartlands, and there are Christian and Muslim strongholds along the middle of the country.

Note on Mozambique: So trusted and respected are members of Mozambique’s Christian clergy that representatives from the clergy  serve as members of the Electoral Observatory, an influential body that observes all elections in Mozambique to ensure  that they are free and fair. This is particularly interesting as it is representative  of Mozambique’s  generally divergent  path to the trend of separation of religion and  the State that has swept the globe over the last few decades.

Note on Ugandan Judaism: the  Abayudaya Jews of Uganda are unique in that they are not ethnic Jews but rather 

of black Ugandan extraction. They  claim the Jewish identity by virtue of their adherence to Judaism.

Note on Senegal: Senegal is the home of the world‐famous Mouride Brotherhood, a Sufi Muslim brotherhood. The  brotherhood, founded in the late 19th century by Sheikh Amadou Bamba and based in the town of Touba, is distinguishable  from other African Muslim brotherhoods because of its emphasis on commerce. Many of its adherents in the diaspora  can be found in  European and American cities engaging in, among other professions, petty trade in counterfeit luxury goods.

Note on Guinea Bissau: Guinea-Bissau ostensibly has no Ahmadiyya Muslims. A 2006 ban made it illegal to be 

an Ahmadiyya Muslim, compelling its Ahmadiyya community to, at least overtly, convert to Sunni Islam. This is particularly interesting as it is the first time in recent history that an African state has legislatively impelled some of its citizens  to change their religious identity.

Note on Gabon and Libya: Between 80‐90% of all Muslims in Gabon are of foreign origin, an allusion to the potential of

immigration to transform societal structures. Libya is another state experiencing migration‐induced transformation of its 

religious landscape (See, for example, Map 14).