The Soninke comprise only 2 million of West Africa’s 100 million Muslims, yet they have played a surprisingly influential role in the region’s history. In particular, the entrance of Islam into the region properly begins with them.

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The Gambia, on the west of coast of the continent, surrounded by Senegal, is the smallest country in Africa. It only has 1.5 million inhabitants, who belong to several people groups. The Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, and Jola are all traditionally Muslim.

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The Worodougou people, numbering about 100,000, live in the sub-Sahara, in the Northwestern part of Ivory Coast. They are Muslims and Animists, who worship their ancestors and certain mountains, rivers, ‘holy woods’, and serpents.

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The vast majority of the 841,000 Dioula (Jula) people of Côte d’Ivoire are Muslim. They are credited with the spread of Islam throughout the region. In the popular language of Côte d’Ivoire the terms “Dioula” and “Muslim” are interchangeable.

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It should be noted that the most recent translation of the 30-Days of Prayer booklet was done in the Maroua area in Cameroon this past year. The booklet was translated from French into Fulfulde, the language of the local Fulani Christians.

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The capital is called Yaounde and there are 10 provinces in Cameroon. Cameroon is known around the world for its numerous successes in soccer. Cameroon is also becoming known for its strong Islamic beliefs.

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Several African kingdoms were founded in the region that is now Benin. By the 1600’s, the kingdom of Dahomey, with Abomey its capital, controlled the area. Europeans began to establish slave-trading posts along the coast about this time.

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The Toucouleur, a sub group of the larger Fulani family of people groups live mostly in the Senegal River Valley region of Northern Senegal and Southern Mauritania. They are also found widely dispersed throughout other Western African countries.

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