Mali Muslims Confront Christianization in Africa

  Mali, once called the "Kingdom of Gold," saw the arrival of Islam in the fifth century AH. Today, Muslims make up 98% of its total population, but due to French colonialism, it has become one of the poorest countries in the world.

Despite the vast Muslim majority in Mali—a landlocked country bordered by Algeria to the north, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire to the south, Guinea to the west and south, and Senegal and Mauritania to the west—it is still subject to widespread Christian missionary campaigns.

Al-Mujtama spoke with Abu Bakr Muhammad, Dean of the French-Arabic Private University of Africa and a professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities in Mali. He revealed details about the lives of Muslims in Mali, who, as the majority, are working to spread Islam and confront Christianization. They are fully aware of modern developments and are establishing more Islamic universities to spread Islam and teach the Arabic language.

Al-Mujtama: To begin, tell us about the people and nature of Mali, and why was it called the "Kingdom of Gold"?

• The people of Mali are composed of various clans and tribes united in one country, most of whom are Muslims, at a rate of about 98%. Its fame as the "Kingdom of Gold" is largely attributed to one of its kings, Mansa Musa, who possessed a great deal of gold. He was called the "King of Gold" because of the immense amount he spent on the poor during the year he performed the Hajj pilgrimage.

Mali's Muslims are the majority of the total population, which is about 24 million people. This is a significant and qualitative leap for the number of Muslims, which was about 6 million at the time of independence in 1960. The credit goes first to God and then to the scholars and traders, both old and new, for spreading Islam in the country, from the era of the empires to the modern republics.

Al-Mujtama: Despite the "Kingdom of Gold" title, Mali doesn't have its own currency. How do you explain that?

• That's right. Although the Republic of Mali bears the media-circulated title of the "Kingdom of Gold," it doesn't have its own currency because of French colonial intervention and the lack of full independence for Mali, as some forms of French influence still exist. Although Mali had its own currency after independence from 1960 until 1984, France economically blockaded it until it submitted to using the currency of the West African Economic and Monetary Union.

Al-Mujtama: Despite the high number of Muslims, there are widespread Christianization campaigns. How true is that?

• Yes, Christianization campaigns have coincided with the French colonizer's presence since the 19th century, specifically in 1893. However, they were imposed on the Malian people, and the colonizer is still trying to enforce them despite the complete rejection by Muslims in the country.

Al-Mujtama: How accurate is the claim that the city of Timbuktu has never been home to idol worship?

• Yes, the city of Timbuktu has never been home to idols. This is because it was founded in the fifth century AH, coinciding with the presence of Islam in Mali. Therefore, only God was ever worshipped there, and no idols ever entered it.

Al-Mujtama: Tell us about the missionary work. Is there a specific number of people who convert to Islam annually?

• Missionary work is going well, and there are no barriers for Muslims to practice their call and spread Islam. As for the number of converts, there is no specific body that keeps statistics. With the increasing number of Muslims in Mali, we find that people—most of them Christians—declare their conversion to Islam in mosques on Fridays. There are also others who convert from neighboring countries.

It should also be noted that the call to Islam and its spread in the country is not dependent on the government but on the efforts of Muslims, both old and new. They follow the same path, submitting to nothing in the spread and call of Islam.

Al-Mujtama: What is the relationship between Malian Muslims and others, and how do they communicate with them? To what extent is the French language widespread?

• It is known that Mali is governed by a secular law, but it allows everyone to practice freedom of religion. In Mali, the matter has reached a point where "the right way has become distinct from the wrong." Muslims are the majority, and despite the presence of Christians in the country for a long time, their number does not reach 1% of the total number of Muslims.

Additionally, some people who used to boast about learning the French language have expressed regret for missing the opportunity to learn Arabic, which is the language of the Quran. The large number of Muslims in the country has created a strong desire and will to learn the Arabic language and the sciences of Sharia.

Al-Mujtama: With the advancement of modern communication, how are Muslims using artificial intelligence for missionary work?

• Muslims in Mali, like other Muslims around the world, use all means of social media, including artificial intelligence. They use it in all fields, including missionary work and spreading Islam, and some are specialists in this.

Al-Mujtama: Does French colonialism play a role in fueling conflicts within Mali, especially through extremist groups?

• There is no doubt that French colonialism has a prominent role in fueling conflicts not only in Mali but in all African Sahel countries. This is done through what are called "jihadist groups," which we do not call jihadist groups here because they are not legally engaged in jihad. Scholars in Mali have issued a statement and a document to that effect, stating that they are not mujahideen. All evidence with the state confirms that the fingers of French colonialism are behind all of this.

Al-Mujtama: How do Muslims overcome internal conflicts, and how are young people being educated?

• There are no internal conflicts among the Malian people. The youth know this, and they also know that the conflicts are only among Malian politicians who have different opinions on how to run the country. There is no conflict between the people of Mali.

Al-Mujtama: How do you evaluate the size and impact of Gulf charitable work in Mali?

• Yes, the Gulf countries have a prominent role in the country through charitable work, which includes building mosques and scientific centers, digging wells, and providing aid to refugees and orphans, in addition to those displaced by the wars that have been imposed on us. The extent of the Gulf's role is very large, and the Gulf countries have truly been a faithful help to the Muslims in Mali and are well-known for it. Everyone has a prominent role in all aspects of charity.