African Islam and Islam in Africa

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa is often regarded as part of the periphery, rather than part of the center, of the Muslim world. In the Abrahamic world, Africa is often marginalized. But is there anything special about Islam’s relationship with Africa? Are there unique aspects of African Islam? Islam has exerted an enormous influence upon Africa and its peoples; but has Africa had any impact upon Islam? While the impressive range of articles presented in this special issue do not directly address such questions, my short editorial attempts to put those articles within the context of Africa’s uniqueness in the annals of Islam. One note: Although these articles concentrate on sub- Saharan Africa (“Black Africa”), our definition of Africa encompasses the continent as a whole – from South Africa to Egypt, Angola to Algeria, and Mozambique to Mauritania ...