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The Study of Religion in Africa

• Africa Focus--Sights and Sounds of a Continent: Images of Religion --and-- Rites and Ceremonies (University of Wisconsin--Madison Libraries and African Studies Program, Madison, Wisconsin)
  
  
• African Association for the Study of Religions (via Edinburgh, UK)
  The site includes information about conferences and members' activities. "The AASR was founded at an International Association for the History of Religions Regional Conference at the University of Zimbabwe at Harare, Zimbabwe, in September 1992. And since it was formally admitted as an IAHR affiliate in the XVIIth IAHR World Con­gress in Mexico City in 1995..."
  -- Web pages of AASR Members
  -- Final programme of 2007 AASR Conference, July 8-13, 2007, University of Botswana, Gaborone
  
  
• African studies quarterly. (Online): "Religion and philosophy in Africa" (1998) Vol. 1, issue 4. -- Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida, Center for African Studies.
  -- See also the ASQ archive for "religion" (1997 to present)
  
  
• AllAfrica.Com News on Religion in Africa (AllAfrica Global Media, Washington, DC)
  Current and recent news in brief on Africa in English or French from African newspapers and journals, the Pan African News Agency (PANA), UN news services, and non-African sources. Warning: the searchable archive for articles older than 30 days is only available through subscription.
  
  
• Leiden University, African Studies Centre: "Religion" in Kenya Coast Bibliography By Jan Hoorweg (2000) (The Netherlands)
  A two page bibliography on the religions of coastal Kenya, East Africa.
  
  
• United States. Department of State. International Religious Freedom Annual Reports. (Washington, DC)
  • Reports on Africa: 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007
    
  • Reports on Near East & North Africa: 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007
    
  
  
• United States Institute of Peace: Religion and Peacemaking (All Regions) (Washington, DC)
  See especially: Publications
  
  

• African Christianity: A History of the Christian Church in Africa (Dr. Neil Lettinga, Professor of History, Bethel College, St. Paul, Minnesota)
  Last update: June 2000. This site features brief historical summaries, with some bibliographical references, on the history of Christian churches in “Western North Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southern Africa.”
  
  
• African Initiated Churches. Compiled by Steve Hayes, SAMS-Southern African Missiological Society, South Africa; via GeoCities.Com. (via University of South Africa, Pretoria)
  A register of researchers on “African Independent Churches”, “African Indigenous Churches”, “African Initiated Churches”, and “African Instituted Churches”; plus: access to the archive of the Society’s journal, Missionalia, and related links. See also: the new web site for SAMS and its activities.
  
  
• Afriquespoir. (Online) -- Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: Afriquespoir, 1998--
  Une publication trimestrielle Catholique qui offre les actualités d'évangélisation, des témoignages missionaires, et une opportunité pour un échange entre églises. Les archives contient les vieux numéros depuis 1998.
  
  
• Agenzia Fides: News on Roman Catholic Bishops, Pastoral Letters, and Missions in Africa: Search By Country. (Congregazione per l'Evangelizzazione dei Popoli, Vatican City, Rome, Italy)
  
  
• Além mar: visão missionária. (Online) -- Lisbon, Portugal: Missionários Combonianos do Coração de Jesus, 1997-
  This is the electronic version of a monthly magazine in Portuguese produced by the Comboni Missionaries of the Roman Catholic Church to disseminate religious news and information about the work of the missions in Africa and elsewhere. There is also a section “especial” with brief religious profiles for countries in Africa, Américas, and Asia. Plus, links to other online Catholic missionary magazines.
  
  
• All Africa Conference of Churches = Conférence des Eglises de toute l'Afrique (Nairobi, Kenya)
  • The official website of this international "ecumenical" Christian organization, with membership in 39 African countries.
  • "Peace and Reconciliation in Africa: A Preliminary Survey of Ecumenical Perspectives and Initiatives" by Harold F. Miller (1993). Mennonite Central Committee occasional paper; 19. (Akron, Pennsylvania)
    A research paper about the AACC's conflict resolution activities in the 1980s and early 1990s. See also: Occasional Papers Series by MCC authors.
  
  
• Anglicans Online: Africa Directory and Links (Society of Archbishop Justus, UK)
  
  
• BBC World Service: The Story of Africa--Christianity (British Broadcasting Corporation, London, UK)
  The web site which accompanied a radio broadcast series on African history, featuring very short historical summaries in English, with audio clips and a short bibliography.
  
  
• Billy Graham Center Archives (Wheaton College, Illinois)
  This archive contains collections mainly from North American Protestant missionaries and some African churches and organizations. Most records cover the 20th century and concern eastern or central Africa. See also, search tips for Africa-related material.
  
  
• Boston University School of Theology: Center for Global Christianity and Mission (Boston, Massachusetts)
  The center web site features short bibliographies and information about several Africa-related programs under the leadership of Dana L. Robert and Martinus L. Daneel--especially for Zimbabwe: African Initiatives in Christian Mission, Research on Indigenous Religions in Zimbabwe, and Preservation Project for African Initiated Churches Zimbabwe Archive.
  
  
• Christian Churches -- Net Ministries: Directory: Search By Country (The Colony, Texas)
  
  
• Coptic Orthodox Church Network (Jersey City, New Jersey)
  
  
• Dictionary of African Christian Biography (Overseas Ministries Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut)
  The site provides information on the project itself and the online dictionary with entries in English, French, and Kiswahili. "The DACB is a multilingual electronic database containing biographies of African Christian leaders, evangelists, and lay workers. Biographies are of those persons chiefly responsible for laying the foundations and advancing the growth of Christian communities in Africa."
  
  
• Ethiopian Christianity
  • "A Bibliography of Christianity in Ethiopia," by John Abbink -- Leiden, The Netherlands: African Studies Centre, Leiden University, 2003. 102 pp. PDF format
    
    
  • ”Ethiopian Icons: Faith and Science” Exhibition, January 31 - October 3, 2003 (National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC)
    The website includes images of Ethiopian Orthodox Christian icons (and processional crosses) from the 17th to the 19th centuries; plus a short bibliography.
    
    
  • Inventaire des bibliothèques et des catalogues de manuscrits éthiopiens (janvier 2008). Par Anaïs Wion, Marie-Laure Derat et Claire Bosc-Tiessé. (Ménestrel--medievistes sur l'internet, sources, travaux, references en ligne, informations sur les collections au tour du monde, via Paris, France) en format PDF
    
  
  
• Le Fait misionnaire. (Online)—Archive (Laussane, Switzerland)
  This site offers the tables-of-contents and a selection of back issue articles for a “peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the study of the social and political influence of Christian missions in Africa and other parts of the (former) colonial world.” Since 2007, the journal was renamed Social Sciences & Missions and is published by E.J. Brill in The Netherlands---a paid subscription is required for access.
  
  
• Kimbanguisme.net (France)
  Un site de la diaspora congolaise et du mouvement indépendantiste développé au sein du Christianisme par Simon Kimbangu et ses fidèles au Congo depuis 1921.
  
  
• University of Malawi, Department of Theology and Religious Studies: Kachere Series Publishing (Zomba, Malawi)
  The site features the publisher's lists of books on Christianity and African "traditional" religion which are available through African Books Collective (Oxford, UK; distributed in USA by Michigan State University Press).
  
  
• Maryknoll Institute of African Studies: St. Mary's University of Minnesota and Tangaza College, Nairobi, Kenya. (Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers--Africa Region, via USA)
  
  
• Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo Web Page (Washington, DC)
  This site offers a short biography, news reports and statements by the former Roman Catholic archbishop of Zambia who advocates for the right to marriage within the priesthood.
  
  
• Mozambique -- Igrejas em Moçambique: uma colecção de links (2002) Moçambique On-Line (Wim Neeleman, Maputo, Mozambique)
  "Esta página foi feita em colaboração com Eric Morier-Genoud e tem contribuições de Obede Baloi."
  
  
• MUNDUS: Gateway to Missionary Collections in the United Kingdom (School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, UK)
  A searchable directory and catalogue of archival holdings on missionary societies and missionaries in the UK. The site includes a collection of sample historic photographs and links to related sites. See especially: the clickable map of Africa.
  
  
• Religion and theology: a journal of contemporary religious discourse. (Online)—Excerpts from 1995-97 -- Pretoria, South Africa: University of South Africa Press.
  
  
• Tanzania -- Salvatorian Institute of Philosophy and Theology (Morogoro, Tanzania)
  The official web site of the Roman Catholic seminary in Tanzania affiliated with the Philosophy Faculty of the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome, Italy.
  
  
• United Methodist Church--Global Ministries: Africa (New York)
  • Africa Task Force of Special Program on Substance Abuse & Violence
    
  • Global Ministries Publications
  
  
• University of Edinburgh Divinity School: The African Christianity Project (United Kingdom)
  
  

• África and Islam -- Biblioteca Virtual (oozebap.org, Barcelona, Spain)
  Selected online books, journals, and links on information about Africa and Islamic societies.
  
  
• ARISA--Annual review of Islam in South Africa. (Online) -- Cape Town: Department of Religious Studies, University of Cape Town, 1998-
  
  
• BBC World Service: The Story of Africa--Islam (British Broadcasting Corporation, London, UK)
  The web site which accompanied a radio broadcast series on African history, featuring very short historical summaries in English, with audio clips and a short bibliography.
  
  
• Columbia University -- Events of Interest: Conference on "Tolerance, Democracy, and Sufis in Senegal," March 7-9, 2008. Co-sponsored by The Institute of African Studies and The Institute for Religion, Culture, and Public Life.
  Plus: "A Saint in the City: Sufi Arts of Urban Senegal," March 10--May 31, 2008, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library, New York.
  
  See also: Tierno Bokar (Sufi sage in Mali) -- U.S. Premiere, March 30 - April 26, 2005, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York.
  
  
• "Muslims in Eastern Africa--Their Past and Present," by Abdulaziz Y. Lodhi (1994). Nordic journal of African studies. (Online); vol. 3, no. 1. (Helsinki, Finland) 10 pages in PDF format
  See the home page to search the archive for more short articles on Islam in Africa.
  
  
• Islam -- General Resources (Compiled by Middle East & North African Studies Librarian, Columbia University)
  
  
• Islam in Contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa (February 2006) An online bibliography by Paul Schrijver. Library, Documentation, and Information Department, Afrikastudiecentrum=African Studies Centre, Leiden University. (The Netherlands)
  • See also: Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa -- Web Dossier(2005). Produced for a Conference on "Islam, Disengagement of the State, and Globalization in Sub-Saharan Africa" held at UNESCO in Paris on 12-13 May 2005.
  • Plus: Islam in Nigeria--Web Dossier and Bibliography (2005).
  
  
• Intellectuels non europhones (2003). Par Ousmane Kane. Document de travail. -- Dakar, Sénégal: Conseil pour le développement de la recherche en sciences sociales en Afrique (CODESRIA), c2003. (Format PDF)
  
  
• The Islamic World to 1600 (Created by Erica Fraser and the Applied History Research Group, University of Calgary, Canada)
  A web site featuring brief historical summaries, with a section on ”The Fractured Caliphate and the Regional Dynasties” which includes “Spain & The Maghrib”, “Egypt”, and “West Africa.”
  
  
• Layene Brotherhood of Senegal -- La Communauté Layène
  The official site –in French, Arabic, English, Spanish, and Italian--of the Layene Brotherhood, an Islamic sect founded by Seydina Limamou Laye (1843-1909) who declared himself the Mahdi. The site includes a biography and geneology of the founder, important religious events, and other information about the movement.
  
  
• The Library of Congress: Islamic Manuscripts from Timbuktu, Mali (Washington, DC)
  This site provides information about and sample pages from 32 manuscripts from the Mamma Haidara Commemorative Library and the Library of Cheick Zayni Baye in Timbuktu. See especially: About the Collection --and-- ”Timbuktu—an Islamic Cultural Center.
  
  
• Maps Relating to Islam's Historical Development: North Africa and the Middle East (1996) From an undergraduate course "Introduction to Islamic Religion” (Dr. Barbara R. von Schlegell, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia)
  
  
• The Murid Sufi Brotherhood -- La Mouridiyya et Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba (1854-1927)
  • Murid Islamic Community in America on Shaykh A. Bamba (New York)
  • Hizbut Tarqiyyah -- Khâdimu-R-Rasûl: Le Serviteur Privilégé du Prophète (Paix et Salut sur Lui) (Touba, Sénégal)
    -- Veuillez voir surtout: Aperçu sur sa vie et son oeuvre -- Le Serviteur Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba
  • Les Grands Magals et Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba (Touba-Internet, France)
  Les informations et les reportages sur les grands magals à Touba; en plus d’une entrée biographique du fondateur de la confrérie et celles de ses sucusseurs, avec quelques oeuvres litteraires choisies, et des autres pertinentes informations.
  
  
• Northwestern University: Institute for the Study of Islamic Thought in Africa (ISITA) (Evanston, Illinois)
  • The web site offers information about the research and teaching activities of the Institute, which include
  • Arabic Manuscripts from West Africa: A Catalog of the Herskovits Library Collection: The Umar Falke Collection, The John Paden Collection, The John Hunwick Collection, and The University of Ghana Collection.
  • 4th Annual International Colloquium, "Gender and Islam in Africa: Discourses, Practices, and Empowerment of Women," May 20-22, 2004 PDF format
  • See also: "The Arabic literary tradition of Nigeria," by John Hunwick (1997). Research in African literatures. (Online); Vol. 28, no. 3. (Bloomington, Illinois: Indiana University Press)
    
  • See also: "Africa and Islamic revival: historical and contemporary perspectives," by John Hunwick (1996) Originally published by MSANEWS. ("Islam and Islamic Studies Resources," Prof. Alan Godlas, Department of Religion, University of Georgia, Athens)
    
  
  
• Organization of the Islamic Conference -- 11th Summit, 8-14 March 2008, Dakar, Senegal – Official Web Site
  
  
• Political Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Need for a New Research and Diplomatic Agenda. (May 2005) by David Dickson. –Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace, 2005. PDF format
  
  
• "Shari'a Debates in Africa" Research Project (Universität Bayreuth, Germany)
  The site features information about the project on "Shari'a debates and their perception by Christians and Muslims," plus summaries on history and issues for 4 African countries: Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania, with bibliographical references.
  
  
• Sudanic Africa. (Online): TOC and Excerpts, 1990- -- Bergen, Norway: Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Bergen.
  "Sudanic Africa is an international academic journal devoted to the presentation and discussion of historical sources on the Sudanic belt, the area between the Sahara and the Bay of Niger, the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans. The journal typically presents such sources in the original language and in translation, with comments."
  
  
• Sultan of Sokoto: A History of the Sokoto Caliphate (Sokoto, Nigeria)
  The official web site of the current Sultan Sa'ad Abubakar III, with brief history and biographical information on the founder, Usman Dan Fodio, and his successors.
  
  
• Islam in Tanzania (2000-2001) (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
  Warning: last update to this site was in 2001. Introductory texts and essays in English on the Muslim experience in Tanzania and East Africa generally; with links to publications in English and Swahili: scholarly articles and more popular news commentaries, selected past issues of a weekly Islamic news magazine and a cultural magazine.
  
  
• The Tijani Sufi Brotherhood in Africa -- La Tijaniyya en Afrique
  • The Islamic Tijaniya Foundation of America, Inc. (Washington, DC)
    The site includes information on the Islamic Tijaniyya brotherhood --founded in Morocco in the 18th century—and information about seminars and conferences in the US.
    
    
  • El Hadj Ibrahima Niass (1900-1975)
    • La Faydha Tijaniyya et Son Imam Baye Niass (Prof. Gane Samb Lô, Université Gaston Berger, Saint-Louis, Sénégal; via GeoCities.Com)
      Un recueil des ouvrages par Imam Cheikh Ibrahima Niass en français et un portail sur sa vie et ses enseignements, avec beaucoup de liens vers d'autres sites.
      
      
    • Medina Baay Historical and Social Research Committee Archive Project (Dr. Joseph Hill, University of Rochester, New York)
      Click on "Search and Browse Archive" for directions on required log-in. The website includes excerpts from the working catalog, photographs, and other background information about Medina Baay and the committee's work. "This is a database of interviews, meeting transcripts, photos, recordings, and other information collected by members of the Medina Baay Historical and Social Research Committee in Kawlax (Kaolack), Senegal. The organization was founded and led by Joseph Hill who created this site. Medina Baay...is the headquarters of the 'Ibrahimiyyah' branch of the Tijaniyyah Sufi order and was founded by Ibrahim Ñas, usually called Baay Ñas in Wolof." ***Note: Netscape or Firefox are the best browsers to access this site.
    
    
  • The Tariqa Tijaniyya (USA)
    An unofficial site with basic information in English about the order, its doctrines, and biographies of the founder and successive Tijani scholars.
    
    
  • Tidjaniya -- Site officiel de la Voie = Official website of the Tidjaniya Way (Lyon, France)
    Le site officiel de la confrérie, --en français, anglais, et arabe-- avec une essai sur la vie du fondateur, Sidi Ahmed Tidjani (1737/38-1815 CE), un recueil de ses enseignements, une séléction des actualités de l'Afrique du Nord, du Sénégal, et de la France (y compris plusieurs nécrologies des figures importants de la confrérie), et une bibliothèque de vidéos et de photos.
    
    
  • La Tijaniyya -- Site officiel au Sénégal (Cellule d'Initiative Zawiya Tijaniyya, Dakar, Sénégal)
    Ce site comprend plusieurs textes sur les fondations de la confrérie qui s'est établi au Maroc par Seydina Cheikh Ahmed Tijâni; mais surtout: une entrée biographique sur El Hadji Malick Sy, l'un des figures les plus importantes dans l'histoire de la confrérie au Sénégal, et plusieurs autres profils biographiques, une galerie de photos historiques, et une bibliothèque de vidéos sur la célébration la plus récente de la fête de Gamou (ou Maouloud) et les "bourdes" aux zawiyas.
    
    
  
  
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art: “Trade and the Spread of Islam in Africa” Timeline of Art History (New York)
  A brief historical summary, with a few bibliographical references and related links on the history of Islam and Islamic arts in general.
  
  

• Abayudaya Jews of Uganda (Kulani, Inc., New York)
  A collection of articles, videos, and reports by volunteers in Uganda about a community of Africans, originally followers of a Ganda leader of the late 19th and early 20th century, Semei Kakungulu.
  
  
• Ethiopian Jews
  • Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews (Jerusalem, Israel)
    This non-profit organization, founded in 1969, advocates for and promotes the "absorption and integration" of Ethiopian immigrants in Israeli society. See also, the main site in Hebrew.
    
    
  • North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry A non-profit aid organization since 1982. (New York)
  
  
• The Jews of Africa (2001) (Jay Sand, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
  A free-lance journalist, musician, and traveller has compiled profiles and historical summaries on "Jewish" communities in Africa, north and south of the Sahara.
  
  
• South African Jews
  • Jewish Web -- South Africa. Jewish guide to South Africa. (Johannesburg, South Africa)
    
  • South African Board of Jewish Deputies. Amalgamated association of Hebrew congregations and Jewish societies since 1912. (Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa; via Israel)
  
  

• African Philosophy Resources: "Religion, Philosophy, and Africa": Links to Online Texts, Websites, and Related Resources (Prof. Bruce B. Janz, University of Central Florida, Orlando)
  
  
• African Traditional Religion (Chidi Denis Isizoh, Italy)
  Frequently updated: This web site offers an extensive list of links to information about African traditional religions on the Internet. The author has compiled an impressive "Bibliography on African Traditional Religion" (1891-2000) –and includes selected journal articles, such as: "The Role of Women in African Traditional Religion" by John Mbiti (1988).
  
  
• ANKH: Egyptologie et Civilisations Africaines -- Bibliographies (Paris, France)
  • "Bibliographie Afrique ancienne: religion, philosophie" (2000)
    
  • "Bibliographie Afrique: religion, philosophie" (1985)
    
  • ANKH Page d'accueil
  
  
• Archives de Sciences Sociales des Religions. (Online) -- Paris, France: Editions de l’Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales; via Revues.org, 1956--
  This online journal contains full text articles on Afro-Latin American religions. Older issues published before 2000 are available via Persée: portail des revues scientifique en sciences humaines et sociales.
  
  
• Orisha and Yoruba--New World Religions
  • Historical Museum of Southern Florida: "At the Crossroads: Afro-Cuban Orisha Arts in Miami" Exhibition, February 23--July 8, 2001 (Miami, Florida)
    See also: other online exhibitions on the museum's new home page.
    
    
  • OrishaNet: A Web Resource for Ifa, La Santeria and the Orishas (Frank Baba Eyiogbe, USA)
  
  
• ”This Far by Faith: African-American Spiritual Journeys”: PBS Television Series. A co-production of Blackside, Inc., The Faith Project, Inc., and Independent Television Service. (Public Broadcasting Service, Arlington, Virginia)
  The web site of the television program series about African-American religious history and historical figures; includes a profile of Olaudah Equiano, an essay on Religion in Africa, and a timeline and other highlights on the transatlantic slave trade since the 15th century.
  
  
• Wim van Binsbergen's writings on "African Religion: studies in anthropology and intercultural philosophy" Shikanda Portal (Leiden University, The Netherlands)
  Note: Many articles deal especially with religion and culture in Botswana, Guinea-Bissau, Tunisia, and Zambia.