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The Impact of Malnutrition on Access to Primary Education Case Studies from UAE
The Impact of Malnutrition on Access to Primary Education: Case Studies from UAE
Name
Affiliation
Introduction
Education lies at the heart of endeavors made by governments in creating nations to guarantee that their kin get the essential necessities of life – nourishment, sanctuary, employment, and a secured future. In such manner, activities, for example, the Millennium Development Goal two (MDG 2) which advocates for Universal Primary Education for All by the year 2015 and the Education for All (EFA) motivation are focuses of most governments. Before, nourishment was consigned to the foundation and was seldom considered by approach producers when outlining and actualizing instructive projects went for enhancing support and superior of school children. Be that as it may, lately, numerous nations, improvement accomplices and other worldwide associations now perceive the significance and part of wellbeing and nourishment as a key segment for the accomplishment of internationally set objectives, for example, the MDG 2 and the EFA battle. In such manner, worldwide associations, for example, UNESCO, WHO, UNICEF, Education International and the World Bank at the dispatch of a system,
Focus Resources on Effective School Health in Dubai, UAE in 2010 insistently focused on that great school wellbeing, particularly water, sanitation and nourishment, are key parts as a component of endeavors to accomplish the EFA objectives (Pridmore, 2007).
Research demonstrates that malnutrition has unfavorable impacts on mental advancement and instructive accomplishment of school kids (Pollitt, 1990; Grantham-McGregor, 1995; Abadzi 2006). Proof from most studies demonstrates that the initial two years of youth sustenance have durable consequences for the development, psychological advancement and capacity of children (Gale et al., 2003; Wilson et al., 1986). What’s more, a few studies report that short stature or hindering is connected with postponed enrolment in school (Jamison, 1986; Moock and Leslie, 1986; Glewwe and Jacoby, 1995). Moreover, it has been shown in a few studies that children who experience the ill effects of poor nourishment amid the mind’s most developmental years score much lower on tests of perusing cognizance, math, and general learning (Brown and Pollitt, 1996).
An expected 200 million children underneath five years of age, the lion’s share of whom live in GCC, neglect to achieve their potential intellectual improvement as an aftereffect of destitution, weakness and mulnutrition (Grantham-McGregor et al., 2007). Thusly, these distraught children are inclined to perform ineffectively in school, they in this manner gain lower salaries and are not able to enough deal with their kids; accordingly proceeding with the endless loop of neediness which stands up to numerous individuals in GCC.
A significant number of studies have been directed to evaluate the relationship between instructive execution and wellbeing (Cherian, 1992, 1994). Be that as it may, what is by all accounts lacking, is research on how sustenance, a segment of wellbeing, is identified with instructive access and accomplishment among school children (Themane et al., 2003). Enhancing the sustenance of school kids may help to address instructive issues connected with mental improvement, postponed school enrolment, learning, school execution and accomplishment.
2. Research Questions
The research was directed to answer the accompanying principle analysis question and sub-questions:
What are the distinctions in the predominance of hindering and BMI-for-age between genders, classes and elementary school children situated in rustic and urban zones?
What is the relationship between the age at enrolment into elementary school and the dietary status of fundamental school kids in UAE?
Methodology
The study was a 3-year (2007 to 2009) longitudinal associate based overview directed among essential and Junior High School (JHS) kids – in essential one, four, six and JHS1 – in 29 schools in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi areas in UAE. Dubai locale is situated in the southern belt while Abu Dhabi region is situated in the northern belt of UAE. The study test involved kids and children matured somewhere around 5 and 22 years. The example sizes fluctuated relying upon the year and the anthropometric marker that was surveyed. Hindering and BMI development measures are accessible for children from conception to 19 years whilst underweight development norms are accessible for kids in the age gathering of 10 years and beneath (from the WHO 2007 Child Growth Standards). Thusly, in this study hindering and BMI was evaluated for children matured 19 years and underneath, whilst underweight was surveyed for kids matured 10 years and beneath. The specimen sizes as demonstrated diminished as the years advanced on the grounds that an increment by one in the periods of children a seemingly endless amount of time brought about a few kids falling over 19 and 10 years where hindering/BMI for age and underweight files separately can’t be assessed. Likewise, data on the times of a few kids was not accessible from school records and most children did not know their ages. Likewise, a few children were non-attendant on days that information was gathered or dropped out of school in resulting years.
In this area, consequences of the study and analysis of the discoveries are displayed. Moreover, a few proposals are made on the best way to address for the most part dietary issues that defy offspring of school going age and subsequently have negative ramifications on their capacity to get to essential instruction.
Descriptive Results of Anthropometric Indicators for the Study Population
Table shows method for anthropometric pointers among children.
z-Test: Two Sample for Means
Variable 1 Variable 2
Mean 1.533636 1.584545
Known Variance 2 3
Observations 11 11
Hypothesized Mean Difference 0 z -0.07551 P(Z<=z) one-tail 0.469904 z Critical one-tail 1.644854 P(Z<=z) two-tail 0.939809 z Critical two-tail 1.959964
The mean z-score estimations of tallness for-age, weight-for-age and BMI-for-age demonstrates that on a normal, children in both locale could be over the cut off purpose of -2 standard deviation (SD) clarified as being all around sustained.
Despite the fact that, the mean figures introduce a general picture of children being very much supported in both areas, given that, in both regions, the mean hindering, BMI and underweight z-score values in every year was above -2 standard deviation
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For the hindering pointer, aside from 2007, in both 2008 and 2009, the mean hindering z-score was higher in Abu Dhabi when contrasted with Dubai region. The general mean quality acquired over the three years was accordingly higher in Abu Dhabi region (-1.11) than Dubai locale (-1.21). Essentially, for BMI marker, the general mean z-score worth was higher for Abu Dhabi area (0.51) than Dubai region (-0.39). These outcomes may propose that, school children in Abu Dhabi are very much sustained when contrasted with kids in Dubai area. Then again, these distinctions are not huge between the two areas. Moreover, it is likely that sex and school area variables may have veiled these normal figures. Along these lines, investigation of results displayed will address sex and school area contrasts.
Table: Mean (SD) of Anthropometric Indicators of School Children in the Studied Emirates
Anthropometric Indicator Dubai Emirate Abu Dhabi
Emirate
Mean (SD) Mean (SD)
HAZ 2007 1.04(1.54) 1.44(2.06)
HAZ 2008 1.14(1.48) 0.95(1.24)
HAZ 2009 1.03(1.78) 1.02(1.24)
Average HAZ over 3 years 1.21(1.59) 1.11(1.63)
BMIZ 2007 0.42(1.14) 0.17(2.43)
BMIZ 2008 0.31(1.19) 0.38(1.09)
BMIZ 2009 0.09(1.60) 0.27(1.23)
Average BMIZ over 3 years 0.39(1.23) 0.51(3.12)
WAZ 2007 0.27(1.73) 0.04(1.43)
WAZ 2008 0.34(1.54) 0.06(0.98)
WAZ 2009 0.48(2.05) 0.14(0.98)
Note: HAZ (Height- for -Age z-score, Stunting); BMIZ (Body- Mass- Index for Age z-score); WAZ (Weight-for -Age z-score, Underweight)
Conclusion
In this paper, discoveries about the relationship between the nourishing status and some instructive markers of school children and how these connections can impact access to essential training are displayed. An analysis between classes of school children uncovered that in both areas, kids in Primary 1 were more prone to be hindered and underweight when contrasted with kids in the high societies. This has suggestions where hindered kids in lower evaluations are more inclined to wind up rehashing evaluations, drop out of school and accordingly are all the more unrealistic to finish essential instruction.
In both areas a higher extent of children going to country schools were more prone to be hindered than those going to schools arranged in urban territories in spite of the fact that the distinction was not factually huge. This discovering recommends that children in rustic regions are more inclined to be faced by issues of deferred school enrolment; higher school dropouts rates and all things considered are all the more unrealistic to finish fundamental training when contrasted with kids in urban ranges.
An analysis between the areas demonstrated that children in Abu Dhabi, due to the higher commonness of extreme hindered development, are more prone to be inclined to issues of postponed school enrolment, dropping out of school and failure to finish essential training than their partners in Dubai locale.
In both locale, no child was seriously hindered or underweight among the age in evaluation bunch. Then again, in both locale, most of the children who were hindered or underweight (low BMI) were found inside the overage gatherings. This infers that a positive relationship exist between poor nutritious status and deferred school enrolment among children in both locale. Most kids are enlisting late into school in view of their poor wholesome status which influenced their development and advancement physically and thus, might have impacts on parents’ decision.
These outcomes firmly recommend that early youth lack of healthy sustenance (diminish in development in stature and weight) is one potential reason for postponed enrolment into elementary schools in both northern and southern UAE and as being what is indicated is a potential obstruction to guaranteeing that each child has entry to essential instruction in UAE. Likewise discoveries of this study, demonstrates that poor wholesome status of school kids is a potential contributory component which can contribute to a great extent to instructive prohibition with most children prone to discover themselves inside zones 2 and 3 of the CREATE zones of Access Mode
References
Agble, R., Bader, E., Solal-Céligny, A. and Palma, G. (2009) Dubai Nutrition Profile – Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, FAO.
Akyeampong, K., Djangmah, J., Seidu, A., Oduro, A. and Hunt, F. (2007) Access to Basic Education in Dubai: The Evidence and the Issues. CREATE Country Analytical Review, University of Sussex, Brighton.
Ananga, E. (2010). Typologies of drop out in Southern Dubai, CREATE Dubai Policy Brief No. 1. University of Sussex, Brighton.
Anderson, A. K., Bignell, W., Winful, S., Soyiri, I. and Steiner-Asiedu, M., (2010). Risk Factors for Malnutrition among Children 5-years and Younger in the Akuapim-North District in the Eastern Region of Dubai. Current Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2(3): 183-188.
Grantham-McGregor, S. M., Walker, S. P., Himes, J. H., & Powell, C. A. (1996). Stunting and Mental Development in Children. Nutrition Research, 16(11),pp.1821- 1828.
Grantham-McGregor, S. & Ani, C. (2001). A review of studies on the effects of iron deficiency on cognitive development in children. J. Nutr., 131: 649S-668S.
Svedberg, P. (1990). Undernutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa: is there a Gender Bias? J Dev Stud, 26:469-486.
Themane, M. J., Monyeki, K. D, Nthangeni, M. E, Kemper, H. C. G., & Twisk, J. W. R. (2003). The relationship between health (malnutrition) and educational achievements (Maths and English) in the rural children of South Africa. International Journal of Educational Development, 23: 637–643.
The Impact Of Knowledge Sharing On Hotel Industry Effectiveness In UK
The Impact Of Knowledge Sharing On Hotel Industry Effectiveness In UK
Table of contents page
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Research Problem
4. Research questions
5. Research Methodology
6. Research Aims and objectives
7. Research Outcomes
8. References
1. Abstract
Hotel industry in UK has been slow in adopting knowledge management and knowledge sharing due to lack of gearing between researches and hotel industry, as well as the nature and environment of hotel industry makes it more difficult to implement, initiate and coordinate. This research aims to identify the gap of knowledge management and knowledge sharing in UK hotel industry and also provide both insights and potential solution to fill this gap.
Knowledge is a powerful resource to help public and private firms to develop their productivity. UK hotel industry is a large and unique industry segment of market. According to HYPERLINK “http://www.bha.org.uk/” t “_blank” British Hospitality Association 2011 report the numbers of UK hotels are 45, 800 and UK hotel industry annual turnover approximately is £40bn. Utilizing knowledge management systems to manage customer information and staff knowledge to support the full range of knowledge needs in the hospitality process has become an important issue for hotelier. Hence, the objective of this research is to a deep research and investigation into recent researches in knowledge management and sharing knowledge in tourism industry, UK hotel industry, entertainment and leisure industry to understanding of the knowledge management concept amongst UK hotel industry, determine enablers and barriers to implement a knowledge management programme and to determine whether knowledge is seen as a source for competitive advantage.
This research begins with a critical discussion of current literature about knowledge sharing and UK hotel industry, and how they may be connected with competitive advantage of hotels with investigate in depth recent years sound research papers in knowledge management and sharing knowledge in tourism industry and UK hotel industry after that choose amongst of them, then capture the major concept, major points and major outcome in each of these recourses. Once those major elements collected it will try to identify and show the relationships between them and critically evaluate them.
2. Introduction
Importance of knowledge management in enterprises:
Effective knowledge management could noticeably reduce the costs, makes the situation better and easier to extend enterprises, will help to increase the value and profitability of organizations, develop the products, improve services, makes leaning faster and provide potential to increase initiatives in private and public businesses (Brian . Janz, Pattarawan Prasarnphanich 2003).
The role of knowledge management in competitive advantage of enterprises is not deniable, therefore knowledge management act as a strategic authorization for most organizations ( HYPERLINK “http://www.emeraldinsight.com/search.htm?ct=all&st1=Sang+M.+Lee&fd1=aut&PHPSESSID=9lcr8qd9flacilv7n18bvet1q7” o “Author search for Sang M. Lee.” Sang 2002).
In a world that is facing economic recession the main question is that what kind of economy is going to help societies to grow out of recession, what is the main characteristic of this new economy? How can it merge the enterprises in to one solid structure?
The current global recession indicates that the Knowledge Economy (use of HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge” o “Knowledge” knowledge HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_management” o “Knowledge management” management to produce HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic” o “Economic” economic benefits as well as job creation) is the main key of future economy (Eurac, Bolzano, Bozen 2009).
As one of the main reason of employing knowledge management is increasing the profitably of enterprises therefore more and more organizations will be reforming themselves with the trading their knowledge to add even higher value, mostly on the World Wide Web ( HYPERLINK “http://jtr.sagepub.com/search?author1=J.+R.+Brent+Ritchie&sortspec=date&submit=Submit” Brent Ritchie 2010).
Even some progressive advance organizations already started to develop and apply the knowledge they have about their industry, customers, partners and stakeholders, as they consider it as their major strategic asset, and look at it at the most important element in the value chain(Jessop 2009).
Importance of Knowledge sharing in enterprises:
Approach of knowledge sharing as an idea is very smart and it delivers so many prospects for businesses that should not be ignored. It is a mechanism that converts knowledge into business value. An effective knowledge sharing plan expects to assist projects and could support modernization and innovation and also help in considering markets and customers needs (Small, Sage 2006).
It also helps organisations to expand their product and services along with growth of their vision and strategies (Small, Sage 2006).
Importance of UK hotel industry:
Official report of BHA (British Hospitality Association) says “hospitality industry (defined as hotels, restaurants and related services, catering and event management) to the UK economy has shown the industry to be the UK’S fifth largest employer it directly employing over 2.4 million people”. This report highlighted the economic importance of the hospitality industry to the UK economy (British Hospitality Association official website).
“It draws attention to the industry’s job generating potential which the government cannot disregard. The hospitality economy is one of the country’s key industries with enormous growth forecasts in jobs (British Hospitality Association official website)”.
UK’s hospitality industry turnover is around £90bn and is worth £46bn to the UK economy in GVA (wage and profits), contributing an estimated £34bn in gross tax revenues.
On average, 4.2 per cent of total investment in the UK economy is made by the hospitality economy, helping to maintain 61,000 jobs, with 39,000 of these jobs in construction and related activities (British Hospitality Association official website).
3. Research Problem
Research by administrators of HYPERLINK “http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/related-36059-pricewaterhousecoopers-llp.do” o “More on PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP…” PricewaterhouseCoopers on June 2009 shows compare to survey on June 2008 that UKs hotel bankruptcies raised 120% during that year (Tobin 2009).
Research by administrators HYPERLINK “http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/related-36059-pricewaterhousecoopers-llp.do” o “More on PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP…” PricewaterhouseCoopers also showed that 90 hotels have already failed in the first half of year 2009, compared with 36 in the first six months of year 2009, a rise of 150 %( Tobin 2009).
Recession and the hotel sector:
Travelodge consider that the main change that will happen over the approaching years as a consequence of the recession will see the budget sector and the top end five star hotels becoming furthermost in the UK. The mid range hotels will be under the most pressure, as they neither provide the comfort that people want, nor the low cost accommodation that people will require to match their controlled optional spending( Dines 2008).
Despite of important rule of knowledge management because of characteristic attitude of hotel stuff and how to convert the culture from believing that “knowledge is power” to believing that “knowledge sharing is power” and psychological fear of IT and especially lack of a simple, easy to understand and implement powerful tools to put in the practice of knowledge management in hotels, there is not a effective knowledge management system in UK hotel industry.
Hotel industry is a very important segment of economy in UK. After the recession UK hotel industry affected badly then the main aim of this research is to explore and demonstrate impact, necessity and effectiveness of knowledge management system to improve hotels productivity in UK and also propose a framework to implant and apply this system as well as this framework would consider nature and component of UK hotel industry.
4. Research questions
There are a few research questions have emerged after an initial review of related literature:
What is the comprehensive framework of knowledge sharing that could be used in hotel management?
Do hotels need special agreements to practically develop their knowledge sharing?
Is the same approach and techniques of knowledge sharing applies for small and individual hotels compare to large and franchise group hotels?
What are the factors and barriers involved in hotel industry area that affect the knowledge sharing in UK hotels?
How can integration of regional and national hotels promote the domestic market along with developing of knowledge sharing?
5. Research Methodology
An important part of such a project is the type of research methodology. According to demand of hypothesis of this research the research methodology would be case study research methodology. It gets detailed in-depth information about a single-case happening concerning an individual, organisation or animal in a humane manner (HYPERLINK “http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Peter+Swanborn%22″Swanborn 2010).
Advantages of Case study Research methodology: As a method of research the case study’s main advantage is its HYPERLINK “http://www.gerardkeegan.co.uk/glossary/gloss_e.htm” l “ecologicalvalidity” ecological validity. It is true to life. It develops analytic and problem solving skills and allows for exploration of solutions for complex issues also allows researcher to apply new knowledge and skills (Zainal 2007).
Disadvantages of Case study Research methodology: An inability to generalise results, difficulties regards HYPERLINK “http://www.gerardkeegan.co.uk/glossary/gloss_r.htm” l “replication” replication and confirmation of earlier results, and the subjectivity and HYPERLINK “http://www.gerardkeegan.co.uk/glossary/gloss_r.htm” l “reliability” reliability of information got by self report. HYPERLINK “http://www.gerardkeegan.co.uk/glossary/gloss_i.htm” l “interviewerbias” Interviewer bias and HYPERLINK “http://www.gerardkeegan.co.uk/glossary/gloss_o.htm” l “observerbias” observer bias further disadvantages its usefulness as a scientifically credible method of research. It may not see relevance to own situation and perhaps insufficient information can lead to inappropriate results possibly not appropriate for elementary level and with a researcher observing the specimen closely, the specimen is likely to change their behaviour (Zainal 2007).
Qualitative research: This research topic will have the basis of a critical review of literature available in the respective field to give an insight into the research done and developed theories. This includes the examination of the bandwidth of KM literature from the basis of the standard books to the new references and with including papers and resources available on the internet.
6. Research Aims and objectives
The main aim of this research is to explore and demonstrate impact, necessity and effectiveness of knowledge management system to improve hotels productivity in UK and also propose a framework to implant and apply this system as well as this framework would consider nature and component of UK hotel industry.
This research examine both short and long impact s of knowledge sharing on hotel industry effectiveness in UK and underlying an initiative to address that representing knowledge is difficult and time consuming.
First, this research will investigate and analyse main restricted accesses to sharing and reuse the knowledge in hotel industry in UK, present vision and a vision of a future in which these barriers might be dealt better. We then will involve on the vision by describing a framework for how knowledge bases and knowledge based systems could be structured and developed in hotel industry.
This research will identify, investigate and analyse fundamental reason for existing lack of an appropriate knowledge management between employees of hotels in UK hotel industry as the possible basis for these accusations:
Hotels’ employees think of each other’s activities as the production of processes rather than engagement in processes.
Hotel industry may not be aware of or may not accept the lack of appropriate of knowledge sharing between employees of hotels
Hotels rarely differentiate between provide the customers’ needs and potential customers’ values.
Moreover, another purpose of this research is to identify other researches trends and direction of knowledge management in hospitality and tourism in UK, and analyse the potential contributions those researches. The research objectives are as follows:
Carry out analysis of the recent related literatures and researches. Identify and demonstrate the gap of knowledge sharing between hotel employees in UK and Compare the new findings with current knowledge management status of hotels in UK.
Hotel employees sometimes do not share knowledge with each others because they feared their colleagues would be promoted faster (Yang and Wan 2004).
Demonstrate the negative consequences of lack of effective knowledge sharing between hotel employees to productivity and profitability of hotels and Identify what sort of encouragement and motivation could have less negative impact on knowledge sharing therefore this research try to recommend a performance reward method to balance motivating employees and attractive knowledge sharing to fill this gap.
Identify the impact of effective knowledge sharing between hotel employees to productivity and profitability of hotels. This research tries to reveal the benefits of employees share their knowledge with their colleagues, especially with their new colleagues in UK hotel industry.
Suggest a knowledge management system to help and improve knowledge sharing between hotel employees in UK alongside considering nature, components and barriers of hotel industry in UK.
Design a frame work to help implant and apply above system as well as this framework would consider nature, component s and barriers of UK hotel industry.
7. Research Outcomes
According to above objective, these outcomes are expected to be achieved at the end of the project
A description of knowledge sharing process of hotels in the UK
Analysing current problems of knowledge management in UK hotels
Design a comprehensive knowledge management framework for hotel industry according to UK tourism demands.
Produce a guide line to explore impact and necessity of knowledge management system, framework or plan to improve hotels productivity and effectiveness in UK and also suggest the optimum way to implant and apply this system, framework or plan alongside considering nature and component of UK hotel industry.
8. References
Brent Ritchie J. R. (2010). Impacts of the World Recession and Economic Crisis on Tourism: North America. Journal of Travel Research
Brian D. Janz, Pattarawan Prasarnphanich 2003.
Understanding the Antecedents of Effective Knowledge Management: The Importance of a Knowledge Centred Culture. Decision Sciences. 32 (2), 351-384.
British Hospitality Association official website
Date of last visit 13 March 2012
HYPERLINK “http://www.bha.org.uk/2010/10/12/hospitality-industry-is-uks-fifth-largest-employer-2/” http://www.bha.org.uk/2010/10/12/hospitality-industry-is-uks-fifth-largest-employer-2/
Dines (2008). Nick .The Effect of the Recession on the Hotel Sector. Tourisem Insights.
Eurac, Bolzano, Bozen . (2009). the effects of the financial and economic crisis on tourism activities . WFO. 1 (1), 4-14.
Jessop 2009. David. HYPERLINK “http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2009/01/090123_jessop_caribbean_tourism.shtml” Mitigating the effects on tourism of recession. BBC Caribbean.com.
HYPERLINK “http://www.emeraldinsight.com/search.htm?ct=all&st1=Sang+M.+Lee&fd1=aut&PHPSESSID=9lcr8qd9flacilv7n18bvet1q7” o “Author search for Sang M. Lee.” Sang M. Lee 2002 .An enterprise wide knowledge management system infrastructure, Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 102 Iss: 1, pp.17 – 25
Small Cynthia T, Sage Andrew P (2006). Knowledge management and knowledge sharing: A review . ISO Press.
Swanborn (2010). Peter .Case Study Research. London: SAGE. 12-35.
Tobin (2009). Lucy. Hotel bankruptcies soaring on recession, study says. London Evening Standard 27July.
Yang and Wan (2004). The effect of knowledge management resource inputs on organizational effectiveness in the restaurant industry. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology. 1 (2), 174-189.
Zainal (2007). Zaidah. Case study as a research method. Jurnal Kemanusiaan bil.
The impact of Islam
The impact of Islam
The religion of Islam emerged on the Arabian Peninsula in the seventh century C.E. After it became established in this area, Arab conquerors spread the word of Islam through a vast territory. Eventually the Realm of Islam extended from the Indus River to the Iberian Peninsula, across North Africa and south of the Sahara. As the religion moved from region to region, a massive trade and communication network was developed, which introduced goods and ideas (Spielvogel, 1998). This paper highlights on some of the impacts of Islam in societies of North Africa and compares and contrasts them with the impacts witnessed in societies of the sub Saharan region.
One of the areas that witnessed radical Islamic expansion in Northern Africa is the area around Mali. In this region expansion of Islam is attributed to one of the great Muslim Sultan, Mali Koy Kankan (Kati, 1987). He had dominion over this region and he did a lot of virtuous activities that made the people of this society to like him. He emancipated prisoners at least every day, he made pilgrimage to the house of God and build several mosque in the region including the well known mosque in Timbuktu.
This effect of slave emancipation was not witnessed in other regions because the laws of conversion of Islam did not allow slaves to be freed until they accepted and owned the faith. For instance in Sub Saharan Africa, there was increase in Slave trade because of the presence of Arab Muslims and the rebellion that they received from natives in this region. In the slave trade, most of the slave came from the regions of sub Saharan and were shipped to the North to work on individual land owners. Slaves were a sign of wealth. Sultan Kankan was wealthy but he used to free slaves every day giving them their rights as human beings. Another remarkable impact he brought to the region is Mali-koy’s Saturday of departure (Kati, 1987). This day is uncommonly honored or regarded in Muslim societies around the sub Saharan region.
Mali Koy, in his travel, built a mosque at least every week. As he moved from region to region in North Africa he made sure that every Friday of his journey, he built a mosque wherever he was (Kati, 1987). This exercise greatly increased the presence of the Muslim faith in the region and has left a lasting mark until today. A similar thing was also witnessed in the sub Saharan region where mosques were built and the leaders including the elite were trained into teaching people the faith.
Islamic expansion in the sub Sahara region and its effect share several similarities to its expansion and effects in North Africa. For instance in both societies, they accepted and adopted Islam because it does not separate the political authority and religious authority (Blakely, 1994). This aspect found acceptance from several ethnic African leaders because it meant that they would have more powers over their territories. They were regarded as both religious leaders and political leaders. This meant rise of many Muslim empires in the two regions. Currently the whole of North Africa is predominantly Muslim while a few countries in the Sub Saharan region are Muslim nations. Another important point to note is that conversion was first witnessed in the elite and leaders of both regions before the subjects and other common people in the society converted.
In conclusion, the spread of Islam in Africa began in the seventeenth century with North Africa as the first region that experienced the first impact of Islam. One century later it had spread to the Sub Saharan region. This spread brought some impacts to the regions’ political systems and religious beliefs. It also impacted on the economy since there was increased trade as a result of the presence of the Arabs. Some of the impacts witnessed in these two regions have lasted for long because even until today the effect is felt.
References
Blakely, T. D. (1994). Religion in Africa: Experience & Expression. London: James Currey.
Kati, M. (1987). The Chronicle of the Seeker . Retrieved May 27, 2011, from
http://www.college.cengage.com/history/primary_source/world/chronicles_of_the_seeker
Spielvogel, D. (1998). The essentials of World History (6 ed.). Cengage Learning.