The Penetration of Islam Among the Babukusu of Bungoma District - Kenya

This book examines the penetration of Islam among the Babukusu from 1904-1998. The persistence of Islam among a predominantly rural people coupled with stiff competition from Christianity and resistance by the indigenous religion provoked this research. It is observed in this book that when Islam reached Babukusuland around 1904, its adoption depended on the similarity between some of its beliefs and practices and those of the indigenous religion. However, certain aspects of Islam were resisted by the people. Inheritance rules are an immediate example. After Islam, Christianity coupled with Western education was introduced by missionaries and later by British colonial administrators. Western education as a means of economic prosperity attracted many Babukusu to Christianity than Islam. Consequently, only few people adopted Islam. Despite the interplay of the above factors in the area, Islam has persisted among Babukusu up-to-date. This therefore reveals that the contact - situation between Islam and Babukusu indigenous religion was one of penetration and not conquest.