INVESTIGATING THE SPREAD OF ISLAM IN THE EASTERN REGION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC)

Abstract

This study investigated the factors and practices that favor the growth of Islam in Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The study was prompted by the allegation that the spread of Islam in DRC has been ignored by scholars, due to the low population of Muslims in the country. The study intended to explorethe factors favoring the spread of Islam in the Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the strategic approaches employed by Muslims in spreading the Islamic religion in this region. This study employed descriptive research methods. Questionnaires and interview question guide were used to do data collection. Data were then presented using frequency tables while relationships were examined using cross tabulation to examine approaches taken by different groups based on religion and gender. The study found out that Muslims mostly target women for conversion to Islam and the children born in such marriage become Muslims thus spreading Islam. The study also revealed that people who do not earn much money (poor) are targeted by Islam through the offer of employment. The study found out that migrant Muslims deliberately reached out to convert them to Islam by giving aid and support and sponsoring projects such as construction of mosques. Alpers 1975 and Brode 1969 stress that the Swahili-Arab traders did not have religious conversion as their main goal, but were interested in the vast amount of ivory and slaves that could be obtained in Congo. The study established that Muslims offer conditional scholarship and employment to people of other faiths as well as engaging in TV debates to enhance the growth of Islam. The study therefore concluded that the spread of Islam is slowly growing in the Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is because Muslims have well-calculated strategies of growth, individual Muslims are zealous and empowered to spread Islam and that Islam has financially integrated its faith such that their operations are well funded. As the growth of Islam increased, people still remained ignorant of strategies for responding to Islamic growth. Based on this study, the researcher recommended the need of inclusion of Islamic studies in Christian Colleges and the need for Christian evangelism among Muslims.