Religion in the Gambia

Religion in the Gambia (2013)[1]

  Islam (95.3%)
  Christianity (4.1%)
  Traditional African religion and others (0.6%)
Mosque in Faji Kunda, the Gambia
Saint Mary's Anglican Cathedral in Banjul

Muslims constitute 95.3 percent of the population of the Gambia according to Pew research center.[1][2] The vast majority are Malikite Sunnis influenced with Sufism, of which the main orders represented are Tijaniyah, Qadiriyah.[2] Except for Ahmadiyya, Sufi orders pray together at common mosques.[2] A small percentage of Muslims, predominantly immigrants from South Asia, do not ascribe to any traditional Islamic school of thought.[2]

An estimated 4.1 percent of the population is Christian, and less than 1 percent practice African Traditional Religion. Other sources give a higher estimate for Christians in the Gambia at 9 percent.[2] The Christian community, situated mostly in the west and south of the country, is predominantly Roman Catholic; there are also several Protestant groups including Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and various small evangelical denominations.[2] There is a small group of followers of the Baha'i Faith and a small community of Hindus among South Asian immigrants.[2]

Intermarriage between Muslims and Christians is common.[2] In some areas, Islam and Christianity are syncretized with African Traditional Religion.[2] There are few atheists in the country.[2] Although most Gambians are Muslim, some suggest that Islam is usually syncrethized with the old Traditional African religion such as the Serer religion. [3][4] Christians also syncrethize Christianity with the old Traditional African religion.[5]

Foreign missionary groups operate in the country.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Table: Muslim Population by Country | Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project". Features.pewforum.org. 2011-01-27. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Gambia. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ↑ By Senate (U S ) Committee on Foreign Relations.Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, 2004 p48-49. Compiled by State Dept. (U.S.). Published by Government Printing Office, 2005. ISBN 0-16-072552-6
  4. ↑ Grolier Incorporated. The encyclopedia Americana, Volume 12, P262 Published by Grolier, 2000. ISBN 0-7172-0133-3
  5. ↑ See:
    • Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, by Senate (U S ) Committee on Foreign Relations, p 49