The course of Islam in Africa

by M Hiskett

This up-to-date and comprehensive survey traces the development of Islam in Africa from the seventh century AD to the present day. Stretching from North Africa and Egypt to Ethiopia, East Africa and the Horn, it pays particular attention to the development of Islamic mysticism throughout the continent, with a detailed account of the Sufi cosmology. Analysing the short- and long-term effects of European colonialism on traditional Islamic systems of government, it critically assesses the state of Islam in the present-day African nation-states, concluding with a ground-breaking study of the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and its clash with African democracy. This is the first book to bring the history of Islam in Africa right up to date.