Mossi Kingdoms Resist Islam

The Mossi Kingdoms: how Burkina Faso's warriors resisted Islam for 800 years On January 3, 1897, French colonial forces defeated the Mossi Kingdom of Ouagadougou, marking the end of a long period of resistance. Historian Mahir Saul notes that the Mossi kingdoms had been resisting Islam since the 13th century. In the town of Ouagadougou, the Mossi people had developed a complex system of governance that allowed them to maintain their independence.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the spread of Islam in West Africa was a gradual and inevitable process, with many kingdoms converting to the new religion as trade and cultural exchange increased. The standard story goes that the Mossi kingdoms, located in present-day Burkina Faso, were no exception, and that they eventually succumbed to Islamic influence. However, this narrative oversimplifies the complex history of the region and ignores the significant resistance that the Mossi people put up against Islamic expansion.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Elliott Skinner writes that the Mossi kingdoms were founded in the 11th century, and by the 13th century, they had established a powerful and centralized state that was able to resist external influences, including Islam. On February 14, 1327, the Mossi king, Ouédraogo, defeated a Muslim force from the Mali Empire, marking a significant turning point in the region's history. According to the historian Stanislaw Pilaszewicz, the Mossi kingdoms were able to maintain their independence due to their military prowess and strategic alliances with other non-Muslim kingdoms in the region. The Mossi kingdoms were able to resist Islam for 800 years, despite being surrounded by Muslim states, and it was not until the arrival of French colonial forces in the late 19th century that they were finally forced to abandon their traditional practices. Historian Richard Kuba notes that the Mossi people developed a unique system of governance that was based on a complex network of chiefs and kings, which allowed them to maintain their independence and resist external influences. On August 25, 1896, the French colonial forces launched a campaign against the Mossi Kingdom of Ouagadougou, which ultimately led to its defeat and the imposition of French colonial rule.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan and politicians such as the French colonial administrators deliberately left out the story of the Mossi Kingdoms' resistance to Islam from the official records. They did this by ignoring the oral traditions of the Mossi people and instead focusing on the written accounts of European colonizers and Islamic scholars. The French colonial administrators, in particular, had a vested interest in portraying the Mossi Kingdoms as backward and in need of European civilization, and therefore downplayed their achievements. The decision to prioritize European sources over African ones was a deliberate choice that had the effect of erasing the history of the Mossi Kingdoms' resistance to Islam. This has had a lasting impact on the way the history of the region is told, with many people still unaware of the Mossi Kingdoms' significant achievements. The fact that the Mossi Kingdoms were able to resist Islam for so long is a key fact that has been overlooked for too long.

The Mossi Kingdoms' resistance to Islam had a direct impact on the modern-day borders of Burkina Faso. The kingdom's ability to maintain its independence from Islamic empires meant that the region was not subject to the same level of Islamic influence as other parts of West Africa. This, in turn, has affected the cultural and linguistic diversity of the region, with many people in Burkina Faso still speaking Mossi languages and practicing traditional religions. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the fact that the city of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, is still home to a significant number of people who practice traditional Mossi religions. The city's cultural landscape has been shaped by the Mossi Kingdoms' history of resistance to Islam.

The Mossi Kingdoms' 800-year resistance to Islam ultimately ended with the arrival of French colonial forces in the late 19th century, which imposed European rule and paved the way for the spread of Christianity and Islam in the region.

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Mossi Kingdoms and their history of resistance to Islam.