Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home Islam in Africa Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Book chapter Book chapter Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Islam, education and politics in West Africa
Author:Skinner, David E.ISNI
Book title:Sierra Leone Studies at Birmingham, 1988
Year:1990
Pages:133-138
Language:English
Geographic terms:West Africa
Gambia
Ghana
Sierra Leone
Subjects:Islam
politics
education
Shi'ites
Abstract:This is an overview of some important characteristics of the development of Islamic education and political action in three West African nation-States: The Gambia, Ghana and Sierra Leone. The paper focuses on political relationships in the varied activities of Islamic organizations in the three countries. Islamic activities take place within a highly politicized environment as Muslim organizations compete with each other, vie for government aid and seek support from Muslim agencies abroad. The paper examines a few cases where Islamic organizations have participated in political arenas. Muslims have a particular interest in political action when it comes to building and operating a national mosque; preparing for and overseeing the annual pilgrimage to Mecca; building schools and recruiting teachers; contacts with foreign agencies through correspondence, receptions for visiting delegations and missions sent abroad; and foreign policy decisions. In conclusion, a rather new movement is considered, the Shia movement. Particular attention is paid to the International Institute for Islamic Studies, based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which is a Shia educational and cultural organization funded in part by the Lebanese community and the Iranian government through the Iranian embassy. Bibliogr., notes.
Views