article
Christianity and Islam among the Mossi
American Anthropologist • 60 (6) (1) • Published In 1958 • Pages: 1102-1119
By: Skinner, Elliott Percival.
Abstract
This article is a study of the history, methods and results of the attempts of Christians and Moslems to convert the pagan Mossi. Islam has the longest history in the area, first penetrating the Mossi territory in the 11th century, while Catholic missionaries arrived in 1900 and Protestant missionaries somewhat later. The Moslems have had the greatest success and the Protestants least. Christianity is looked upon with suspicion since it is the religion of the conquerors and since so many of its tenets are at variance with pagan beliefs. The tenets of Islam are much closer to Mossi beliefs and it is far more adaptable to these beliefs as well. However, the Mossi have shown great resistance to both religions and the great majority of them are still pagan. There is a tendency today towards a greater Moslemization of the populace and a declining status for Catholicism and Protestantism. Skinner was a Professor of Anthropology at New York University.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2009
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Western Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Timothy J. O'Leary ; 1959
- Field Date
- 1955-1957
- Coverage Date
- 1900-1957
- Coverage Place
- Burkina Faso
- Notes
- Elliott P. Skinner
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 1119)
- LCCN
- 17015424
- LCSH
- Mossi (African people)