What happened to religion in West Africa when Islam was first introduced? West Africans remained faithful to their original religions. Islam quickly became the leading religion of the region. Islam functioned alongside the existing religions of the region. West Africans were resistant to Islam's new ideas and ignored the religion.

When Islam was first introduced to West Africa, it functioned alongside the existing religions of the region. Traders and merchants brought Islam across the Sahara Desert, and it first took hold in urban centers such as Timbuktu, Gao, and Kano, where a class of literate merchants found the religion's emphasis on trade and justice particularly appealing. Islam was initially adopted by rulers and elites partly for political and economic reasons, as it helped to establish trade connections with North Africa and the Arab world. Over time, Islamic influence grew in these urban areas, leading to the development of institutions like mosques and madrasas (Islamic schools).

While the adoption of Islam by some elites was initially quite superficial – with Islam imposed upon traditional animistic beliefs and customs without a full conversion – over time, the religion took a deeper hold, particularly in urban centers. However, in many other parts of West Africa, people continued to practice their traditional religions alongside Islam. Some societies integrated Islamic practices with indigenous beliefs, resulting in a syncretic blend of Islam and local traditions.

It was not until the spread of Islam through dedicated Islamic scholars, Sufi orders, and later, through the activities of jihadist states, that Islam became more widespread and influential in the wider populations. Yet, even then, there remained significant numbers of West Africans who adhered to traditional religious practices.