Irreligion in Africa
rationalist ) |
Irreligion in Africa, encompassing also atheism in Africa as well as
traditional beliefs. Despite this the irreligious population is notable, especially in South Africa where 15.1% of the population describe themselves as irreligious and in Botswana
, where 20% of the population describes themselves as non-religious.
History
Sources promoting irreligion in Africa have been dated to go back several millennia.anti-colonial movements gained influence on the continent.
Demographics
The largest self-declared populations of the irreligious in Africa are found in Southern African countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, and Botswana. Irreligion in Ghana has also been the subject of some study.[3] Irreligious people are also growing in North Africa, where ex-Muslims are more and more vocal, especially in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Algeria.
Trends
In tandem with the increase of irreligion around the world, the declared population of irreligionists in Africa has been noted to be on the rise.[4][5]
Notable irreligious people in Africa
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (March 2021) |
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- Aliaa Magda Elmahdy, Egyptian feminist.
- U.S. President Barack Obama.
- Chris Hani, South African anti apartheid activist and General Secretary of the South African Communist Party.
- Govan Mbeki, South African anti apartheid activist and father of President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki.
- Joe Slovo, South African anti apartheid activist and General Secretary of the South African Communist Party.
- Kareem Amer, Egyptian blogger and political activist.
- Kingunge Ngombale–Mwiru, veteran Tanzanian politician.
- Leo Igwe, Nigerian human rights activist.
- Maikel Nabil Sanad, Egyptian blogger and political activist.
- Nadine Gordimer, ANC activist and writer.
- Rachid Boudjedra, Algerian writer and novelist.
- Ronnie Kasrils, South African anti-apartheid activist.
- President of Mozambique.
- Seun Kuti, Nigerian musician.[6]
- Tai Solarin, Nigerian writer and educator.[7]
- blogger.
- Wole Soyinka, Nigerian writer and Nobel Prize winner.[8]
- Kateb Yacine, Algerian novelist and playwright.
- Zackie Achmat, South African anti-apartheid activist.
- Zineb El Rhazoui, Moroccan journalist and human rights activist.
References
- ^ M.B. Mat'e, The History of Freethinking in Ancient Egypt (1956), no. 3.
- ISBN 9781118509210.
- ISBN 9780313351822.
- ^ "The rise of atheism in modern Kenya". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2013-07-05.
- ^ "Why We Don't Believe In God". The Star. Archived from the original on 2013-08-21. Retrieved 2013-08-23.
- ^ "I am happy I'm an atheist, says Seun Kuti - Vanguard News". Vanguardngr.com. 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
- ^ "Tai Solarin: His Life, Ideas, and Accomplishments". Infidels.org. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
- ISBN 9780307430823.
I already had certain agnostic tendencies—which would later develop into outright atheistic convictions— so it was not that I believed in any kind of divine protection.
Further reading
- Phil Zuckerman, Atheism and Secularity (2009), p. 75, ISBN 9780313351822.
