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Religion in Mali

November 20, 2023

Religion in Mali is predominantly Islam with an estimated 95 percent of the population being Muslim,[2] with the remaining 5 percent of Malians adhere to traditional African religions such as the Dogon religion, or Christianity.[3] Atheism and agnosticism are believed to be rare among Malians, most of whom practice their religion daily, although some are Deist.[4]

Religion in Mali (2022 estimate)[1]

  Sunni Islam (95%)
  Other (5%)

Muslims are mostly Sunni belonging to Maliki school of jurisprudence influenced with Sufism. Ahmadiyya and Shia minorities are also present.[5]

Islam edit

Main article: Islam in Mali

According to the 2005 U.S. Department of State’s annual report on religious freedom, Islam was traditionally practiced in Mali was characterized as moderate, tolerant, and adapted to local conditions.[4] Women were allowed to participate in social economical and political activities and generally do not wear veils, except for some Tuareg women.[4] According to the 2012 Pew Forum study The World’s Muslims: Unity and Diversity, 94% of Muslims in Mali believed that religion is very important in their lives and 71% believed there is "only one true way to understand Islam’s teachings" (24% believing that multiple interpretations of Islam are possible).[5]

Christianity edit

Main article: Roman Catholicism in Mali

Christianity was introduced to Mali in the late 19th century by the French. In 2014, there are 275,000 Catholics in Mali, around 1.86% of the total population.[6]

In 2020, Christians made up 2.35% of the country's population;[7] over half of these were Catholic.

Secularism edit

The constitution establishes a secular state and provides for freedom of religion, and the government largely respects this right.[4] Relations between Muslims and practitioners of minority religious faiths are generally friendly, and foreign missionary groups (both Muslim and non-Muslim) are tolerated.[4] Parties based on ethnic or religious lines are banned and public schools do not offer religious instruction.[8]

Dogon religion edit

Main articles: Dogon religion and Traditional African religion

The Dogon religion is the traditional African religious or spiritual beliefs of the Dogon people of Mali. Dogons who practice the traditional religion of their ancestors believe in one Supreme Creator called Amma (or Ama[9]).[10] Amma is the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent Creator in Dogon religion.[11] They also believe in ancestral spirits known as the Nommo also referred to as "Water Spirits".[12] Veneration of the ancestors form an important aspect of their spiritual belief. Mask dances are held immediately after the death of a person and sometimes long after they have passed on to the next life.[13]

Freedom of religion edit

Prior to the Northern Mali conflict, human rights groups recorded "no recent reports of persecution, discrimination, or imprisonment on the basis of religious convictions or affiliation."[8] However, terrorist groups attempted to institute strict Islamic law in the northern parts of the country in 2012 and Mali was listed high (#7) in the Christian persecution index published by Open Doors, which described the persecution in the north as severe.[14][15] In spite of this, a 2015 study estimated some 8,000 believers in Christ from a Muslim background in the country.[16] Several Islamic sites in Mali were destroyed or damaged by vigilante activists linked to Al Qaeda, claiming that "idol worship" characterized the sites.[17] Given the cultural and religious importance of the sites in the city of Timbuctu (Tomboctou), eight of the shrines on the UNESCO heritage list had been fully reconstructed, and another six were in the process of reconstruction, by July 2015.[18] However, the occupation and Sharia law were both short-lived, cut short by a French and Chadian military intervention that began in January 2013.

In 2023, Mali was scored 2 out of 4 for religious freedom;[19] this was mainly due to armed groups active in the north of the country. In the same year, the country was ranked as the 17th worst place in the world to be a Christian.[20]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Stephen W. Day (2012). Regionalism and Rebellion in Yemen: A Troubled National Union. Cambridge University Press. p. 31. ISBN 9781107022157.
  3. ^ "Mali". Bureau of Public Affairs. The Office of Electronic Information. September 19, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e Mali country profile. Library of Congress Federal Research Division (January 2005). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ a b "The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity" (PDF). Pew Forum on Religious & Public life. August 9, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  6. ^ Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2014, Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2016, S. 34, S. 66
  7. ^ The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-28
  8. ^ a b Norris, Pippa (3 May 2011). "Muslim support for secular democracy" (PDF). The University of Sydney. p. 5.
  9. ^ Insoll, Timothy, ' Ritual, Religion, Routledge (2004), p. 123–125, ISBN 9781134526444 (retrieved March 3, 2020) [2]
  10. ^ Masolo, D. A., African Philosophy in Search of Identity : African systems of thought, (ed. International African Institute), Indiana University Press (1994), pp. 70—71, ISBN 9780253207753 (retrieved March 3, 2020) [3]
  11. ^ Hackett, Rosalind, Art and Religion in Africa, A&C Black 1(998), pp. 35-36, ISBN 9780826436559 (retrieved March 3, 2020) [4]
  12. ^ *Griaule, Marcel (1970, (original 1965)), Conversations With Ogotemmêli: an Introduction To Dogon Religious Ideas , p. 97, ISBN 978-0-19-519821-8
  13. ^ Davis, Shawn R., Dogon Funerals [in] African Art, vol. 35, Issue 2, JSTOR (Organization), University of California, Los Angeles. African Studies Center, African Studies Center, University of California, Los Angeles (2002), p. 68
  14. ^ Report points to 100 million persecuted Christians. Retrieved on 10 January 2013.
  15. ^ OPEN DOORS World Watch list 2012. Worldwatchlist.us. Retrieved on 2013-01-18.
  16. ^ Johnstone, Patrick; Miller, Duane Alexander (2015). "Believers in Christ from a Muslim Background: A Global Census". IJRR. 11: 14. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  17. ^ Hughes, Dana (2012-07-03). "Al Qaeda destroys Timbuktu shrines, ancient city's spirit". ABC News. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  18. ^ "Tomboctou: Mme IRENA BOKOVA INAUGURE LES MAUSOLEES REHABILITES". Essor. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  19. ^ Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08
  20. ^ Open Doors website, retrieved 2023-08-08

November 20, 2023
religion, mali, predominantly, islam, with, estimated, percent, population, being, muslim, with, remaining, percent, malians, adhere, traditional, african, religions, such, dogon, religion, christianity, atheism, agnosticism, believed, rare, among, malians, mo. Religion in Mali is predominantly Islam with an estimated 95 percent of the population being Muslim 2 with the remaining 5 percent of Malians adhere to traditional African religions such as the Dogon religion or Christianity 3 Atheism and agnosticism are believed to be rare among Malians most of whom practice their religion daily although some are Deist 4 Religion in Mali 2022 estimate 1 Sunni Islam 95 Other 5 Muslims are mostly Sunni belonging to Maliki school of jurisprudence influenced with Sufism Ahmadiyya and Shia minorities are also present 5 Contents 1 Islam 2 Christianity 3 Secularism 4 Dogon religion 5 Freedom of religion 6 See also 7 ReferencesIslam editMain article Islam in Mali According to the 2005 U S Department of State s annual report on religious freedom Islam was traditionally practiced in Mali was characterized as moderate tolerant and adapted to local conditions 4 Women were allowed to participate in social economical and political activities and generally do not wear veils except for some Tuareg women 4 According to the 2012 Pew Forum study The World s Muslims Unity and Diversity 94 of Muslims in Mali believed that religion is very important in their lives and 71 believed there is only one true way to understand Islam s teachings 24 believing that multiple interpretations of Islam are possible 5 Christianity editMain article Roman Catholicism in Mali Christianity was introduced to Mali in the late 19th century by the French In 2014 there are 275 000 Catholics in Mali around 1 86 of the total population 6 In 2020 Christians made up 2 35 of the country s population 7 over half of these were Catholic Secularism editThe constitution establishes a secular state and provides for freedom of religion and the government largely respects this right 4 Relations between Muslims and practitioners of minority religious faiths are generally friendly and foreign missionary groups both Muslim and non Muslim are tolerated 4 Parties based on ethnic or religious lines are banned and public schools do not offer religious instruction 8 Dogon religion editMain articles Dogon religion and Traditional African religion The Dogon religion is the traditional African religious or spiritual beliefs of the Dogon people of Mali Dogons who practice the traditional religion of their ancestors believe in one Supreme Creator called Amma or Ama 9 10 Amma is the omnipotent omniscient and omnipresent Creator in Dogon religion 11 They also believe in ancestral spirits known as the Nommo also referred to as Water Spirits 12 Veneration of the ancestors form an important aspect of their spiritual belief Mask dances are held immediately after the death of a person and sometimes long after they have passed on to the next life 13 Freedom of religion editPrior to the Northern Mali conflict human rights groups recorded no recent reports of persecution discrimination or imprisonment on the basis of religious convictions or affiliation 8 However terrorist groups attempted to institute strict Islamic law in the northern parts of the country in 2012 and Mali was listed high 7 in the Christian persecution index published by Open Doors which described the persecution in the north as severe 14 15 In spite of this a 2015 study estimated some 8 000 believers in Christ from a Muslim background in the country 16 Several Islamic sites in Mali were destroyed or damaged by vigilante activists linked to Al Qaeda claiming that idol worship characterized the sites 17 Given the cultural and religious importance of the sites in the city of Timbuctu Tomboctou eight of the shrines on the UNESCO heritage list had been fully reconstructed and another six were in the process of reconstruction by July 2015 18 However the occupation and Sharia law were both short lived cut short by a French and Chadian military intervention that began in January 2013 In 2023 Mali was scored 2 out of 4 for religious freedom 19 this was mainly due to armed groups active in the north of the country In the same year the country was ranked as the 17th worst place in the world to be a Christian 20 See also editReligion in AfricaReferences edit 1 Stephen W Day 2012 Regionalism and Rebellion in Yemen A Troubled National Union Cambridge University Press p 31 ISBN 9781107022157 Mali Bureau of Public Affairs The Office of Electronic Information September 19 2008 a b c d e Mali country profile Library of Congress Federal Research Division January 2005 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain a b The World s Muslims Unity and Diversity PDF Pew Forum on Religious amp Public life August 9 2012 Retrieved June 2 2014 Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2014 Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2016 S 34 S 66 The ARDA website retrieved 2023 08 28 a b Norris Pippa 3 May 2011 Muslim support for secular democracy PDF The University of Sydney p 5 Insoll Timothy Ritual Religion Routledge 2004 p 123 125 ISBN 9781134526444 retrieved March 3 2020 2 Masolo D A African Philosophy in Search of Identity African systems of thought ed International African Institute Indiana University Press 1994 pp 70 71 ISBN 9780253207753 retrieved March 3 2020 3 Hackett Rosalind Art and Religion in Africa A amp C Black 1 998 pp 35 36 ISBN 9780826436559 retrieved March 3 2020 4 Griaule Marcel 1970 original 1965 Conversations With Ogotemmeli an Introduction To Dogon Religious Ideas p 97 ISBN 978 0 19 519821 8 Davis Shawn R Dogon Funerals in African Art vol 35 Issue 2 JSTOR Organization University of California Los Angeles African Studies Center African Studies Center University of California Los Angeles 2002 p 68 Report points to 100 million persecuted Christians Retrieved on 10 January 2013 OPEN DOORS World Watch list 2012 Worldwatchlist us Retrieved on 2013 01 18 Johnstone Patrick Miller Duane Alexander 2015 Believers in Christ from a Muslim Background A Global Census IJRR 11 14 Retrieved 20 November 2015 Hughes Dana 2012 07 03 Al Qaeda destroys Timbuktu shrines ancient city s spirit ABC News Retrieved 2012 07 06 Tomboctou Mme IRENA BOKOVA INAUGURE LES MAUSOLEES REHABILITES Essor Retrieved 23 July 2015 Freedom House website retrieved 2023 08 08 Open Doors website retrieved 2023 08 08 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Religion in Mali amp oldid 1174556265, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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