The vast of the Muslim community lives and works in the area around one main street in Luton. This particular area (Bury Park) is facing many needs and challenges. It has been identified as one of the neediest communities in England.
Christians have been praying for Saudi Arabia for years and as a result, some openness has been recorded. For example, in October 2005, King and Prime Minister Abdullah, in his first TV appearance, publicly stated “people are free to practice their faith in the privacy of their homes”.
The number of believers from the Muslim background is growing in Alexandria. Muslim fundamentalism seems, at present, to have lost its vitality and a number of people who were involved have begun looking for something else that will better meet their spiritual hunger.
In recent years a Maninka Imam heard an audiocassette testimony of Moussa Kone, a former Muslim marabout (Folk Islamic holy man). Being the son of a marabout himself he listened attentively. He temporarily set aside his work as a carpenter and began to compare the Bible verses and the Qur'anic texts. After one month of intense studies he chose to follow Jesus.
The capital is called Yaounde and there are 10 provinces in Cameroon. Cameroon is known around the world for its numerous successes in soccer. Cameroon is also becoming known for its strong Islamic beliefs. In many ways, Cameroon is Africa in miniature. It is bilingual, in the center of Africa, diverse in climate, culture, religion and ethnicity.
In this harsh, sun-soaked, sand-moving country lives a people called the Saharawi. Of semi nomadic decent they are a Berber/Arab mix. Their Arabic inheritance can be traced back to the 15th Century when tribes migrated from Yemen across North Africa and settled in Western Sahara.
About 96% of the Libyan population is Muslim and 3% Christian. The majority of Christians in Libya are nominal Egyptian Copts. There are only a handful of Libyan Christians. Sunni Islam is the state religion; Christian witness to Libyans is strictly prohibited.
The Saho people of Eritrea are a nomadic people, whose lives are built around their herds. Numbering only 180,000 people they compose only about five percent of the total population of Eritrea. Today, the Saho often tend other people's cattle, in exchange for grain. Many Saho children wear little leather pouches around their neck, which are supposed to ward off evil spirits. Honey has traditionally been an important part of the Saho diet and the people are also known as good beekeepers.
Most of the people of Madagascar (the Malagasy) originally came from the islands of Indonesia. However some of the Malagasy have different origins. Centuries ago, Arabs began to develop trade in the Indian Ocean.
The Lebou of Senegal perform various kinds of sacrifices to appease the spirits and bind themselves in covenants with them. Each Lebou is bound to a “rab” who accompanies him. The “rab” can be either good or bad, and can cause sickness, paralysis or folly.
