Islam and Ghana

Islam
Islam was spread to Ghana through trade. The extensive commerce between the Arab merchants that came to Ghana for gold and the people of Ghana spurred much of the conversion to Islam. The king did not fully embrace the religion, so his town was sort of separated from the rest of the city of Ghana, but he did keep on good terms with the Muslim traders. Many mosques were built in Kumbi Saleh (the city of Ghana) and the religion was widely embraced. Again, the widespread conversion was mostly because of the interactions between the Soninkes and the Arabs.


Arab Influence
Other than religious ideas, Islam brought many different things to Ghana. Muslims brought some of their architecture (domed buildings) as well as formal educational systems. These, especially formal educational systems, blossomed in Ghana. Islam also brought with it social fragmentation (separated groups in society) and, most importantly, widespread, unified literacy. The religion brought Arabic language and writing, which almost all of the Soninkes learned as they adopted the religion.