Religion in Niger

Niger is a predominantly Muslim nation. Islam is the most significant religion, making up 94% of the population. Most Muslims are Sunni Muslims, with a small population of Shia Muslims making up 7% of the total populations.

Islam has significantly impacted the country – even in regions and among peoples that practice traditional religions, they often do so within a framework of Islamic belief, taking elements of the traditional religion and making it fit within Islamic beliefs.

Islam has been present in the region for a millennium, but has only gained such predominance in recent centuries. While there are differing beliefs within the Muslims in Niger, they have largely coexisted peacefully.

Christianity has also influenced Niger. When the French colonized Niger, they brought it along with cultural practices and education. Today, Christians account for less than 1% of the population, and they live primarily in the larger urban areas. Christian missions organizations work throughout the country.

The Bahá’i Faith has also grown in the region, particularly during the drawdown of the colonial period. In the 1960’s and 70’s, Bahá’i organizations thrived, until the oppressing of them in the later ‘70s. Since it’s reemergence in the early ‘90s, the assembly has grown.

Not many traditional faiths thrive in Niger today, although their past included many different people groups and religions.

People groups that relied upon the Niger River, including the Bozo or Sorko, have unique origin myths. These people groups and their religions are not bound by national boundaries that exist today, so it’s difficult to know what exact influences exist in Niger today. The story of Musa Nyame and the Hira tells the story of a young ruler who learned the magic and knowledge of the forest, and defeated a magical creature with his soon-to-be wife.[1] The story tells the origins of the hunters in the region and the existence of many kinds of animals. Other origin stories from the surrounding region include the story of Ale, the mother of the earth. The story explains how she gave her body to create the earth and the animals that thrive in it.[2]

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[1] African Myths of Origin (London: Penguin Books, 2005), 21.

[2] Ibid., 286.

Bibliography

African Myths of Origin. London: Penguin Books, 2005.