The Role of Islam in Community-Trade in Coastal Yoruba-land

Abstract

Religion has historically played an important role in providing socio-economic benefits in many Yoruba-speaking areas. However, the contribution of religion in community trade is insufficiently recognized and mapped. In the same vein, trade had played an important role in the introduction and spread of Islam in Coastal Yoruba-land. This interconnectivity of Islam and trade in the land therefore deserved to be studied, as hardly could one be divorced of the other. The objectives of this paper therefore are: to carry out a systematic assessment of the role of religion in community-trade in coastal Yoruba-speaking area with particular reference to Islam and to examine the community-trade factor in the spread of Islam in the region. Efforts to document and analyze the contribution of religion in community-trade in coastal Yoruba-land are necessary in order to increase the recognition of religion
and spirituality in public domain.