Narrator = Gabe

Introduction:
Did you know that the Arabic language and Islamic religion traveled mainly by trade? Trade
across the region of West Africa and the Niger River was so booming from about the 10th
through 16th centuries that some texts actually refer to the region as the sandy sea. It was called
the sandy sea because it was comparing the region to the water routes which were very popular.
Salt, silk and gold were also some of the things brought through trade. Today, I will be talking to
you about the growth of the Arabic written language in West Africa through trade, government
and scholarship.

Trade: Most people don’t realize that trade was an essential part of the growth of the Arabic
written language. Some of the first merchants to travel to West Africa were Northern Arabs.
Slowly, the Islamic faith assimilated into West Africa. The Ethiopians and Somalis traveled
around the Horn of Africa to trade with one of their most important countries, Egypt. Egypt was
so essential to their well-being because they traded cotton, gold and salt, which helped them to
enhance food, make jewelry and make clothing. How did they communicate you might ask? The
Ge'ez script is a written language that was developed in the Horn of Africa in the 8th-9th century
BC for writing the Ge'ez language. The influx of Arab merchants led to the borrowing of words
from other languages which made the Arabic language richer in words and more people would
understand the Arabic language. For example, in Hebrew, peace be with you is shalom alechem
and in Arabic it’s Salaam Alekoom. Some African rulers tried to stop the growth of Islam in
Africa, but the constant merchants flowing in from Arabia caused much cultural blending or
assimilation. Sadly, the prestige of these places and their kings was not to last. As Europeans
figured out how to sail around Africa, and as the world turned its interest to the newly discovered
Americas, trade in Africa died down.
Islamic Scholarship:
As time went on, the rulers of West Africa gave up on the containment plan that would keep
Islam from blending into Africa because there were too many merchants. Some of the rulers of
West Africa actually converted completely over to the Islamic faith. The most prestigious of
these rulers was Mansa Musa, a West African King. So dedicated to the Islamic faith, that he
actually made a pilgrimage to the lands of Arabia. Coming home from this pilgrimage, Mansa
Musa returned with books written in the Arabic language. Of course, books are no good without
teachers to teach them, so he also brought back Islamic religious scholars. With this, the religion
of Islam and the Arabic language made its way deeper into the African culture. Mansa Musa also
brought back an architect whom he commissioned to build mosques or Islamic houses of
worship. This architect helped build the great University of Timbuktu. During its day, this place
was a vibrant center for Islamic learning and scholarship. It was so prestigious that it actually
brought in students from places like Europe and Asia. Unlike as so often happens, the spread of
Islam and the Arabic language in Africa did not come through war or conquest. Instead, it
happened slowly, trickling through the region like water seeping through densely packed sand.

Government:
As Islam was spreading into West Africa, many African kings and people were converting to the
Islamic Faith. The Leader of Songhai, Sunni Ali Ber really wanted to conquer the city Timbuktu.
The famous traveler and scholar Ibn Batutah came to Mali during Mansa Sulaiman’s reign and
he gave an excellent account of Mali’s government and its economic prosperity. Muhammad
Rumfa consulted Muslim scholars on the affairs of government. It was he who had asked the
famous Muslim theologian Al-Maghilli to write a book on Islamic government during the latter’s
visit to Kano in the 15th century. The interaction of Arabic with other languages led to the
borrowing of new vocabulary which enriched the language in areas such as government,
administration, and science.

Lesson Summary:
First main point, the Arabic language and Islamic religion came to West Africa by way of trade.
Some of the first merchants to travel through West Africa, were Arabs from the north who
brought with them the Arabic language. Second main point, Mansa Musa was a West African
king who went to Arabia and brought back books about the Arabic language and scholars to
translate and teach about them. Lastly, the Arabic language led to a stronger government since
people were borrowing words to enrich their languages. All in all, the Arabic language had much
influence in West Africa and in the Horn of Africa.