Traditionalists, Muslims, and Christians in Africa: Interreligiou ...

Many Muslims even adopted elements of ATR into their own religious practices. The Christian attitude towards ATR, as perpetrated by Crowther, was predominately negative. However, Rev. Johnson’s approach was more favourable to Traditionalists. In several ways, ‘the historic meeting of different religions in Africa should help to provide a positive framework for cross-religious influences’ (87).

Another work that is relevant for this study is that of Blyden ([1887] 1994). The book, which is commonly referred to as Blyden’s magnum opus, is primarily about the influence of Christianity and Islam on the Africans, especially those in Sierra Leone and Liberia, in the nineteenth century. Blyden traced the means by which the two foreign faiths came to Africa, and their attitudes towards African culture and religion. He portrayed Islam as being more accommodating to, and sharing more affinity with, the African. Its original tradition was modified in Africa ‘by shaping many of its traditional customs to suit the milder and more conciliatory disposition’ of the Africans ([1887] 1994, 14). Islam was helpful in guiding Africans to overcome the traditional polytheistic worship. Muslims have done more to improve the socioculture of Africa and to promote the achievements and religiosity of Africans.

Unlike Islam, Christianity is less tolerant of African culture and beliefs, and tends to degrade them ([1887] 1994, 30–53). The teachings of Christianity are exclusive and uncompromising. Although a Christian himself, Blyden was very sympathetic to Islam and worked hard to gain for Islam the respect and recognition it deserved. Blyden’s work also provided the reader with knowledge of the efforts made, and the achievements gained, by Africans in public services and in promoting African values.

Sanneh’s 1996 book Piety and Power is relevant at a time when the world is very aware of the importance of exploring new and creative methods for engagement in interfaith dialogue, especially between Muslims and Christians. It is an analysis of Christianity and Islam in West Africa. Muslim-Christian encounters and relationships are not new in Africa, but constitute a vital phenomenon that affects not only Muslims and Christians, but people of other religious faiths.