Islam spread in the African continent in phases and in different ages. The process occurred through either expansion of Muslim power as in North Africa, or trading as happened in West Africa. Falola argued that the process of spreading Islam in West Africa generally occurred peacefully through trading and preaching. In that regard, the purpose of this article is to examine the process of spreading Islam in West Africa until the 11th century CE. On the whole, this article is a qualitative research using historical study and content analysis to gather and analyse information from relevant primary and secondary sources. Research findings argue that initial contact of Muslims with the West African region began since the century 1H/7CE. From this contact, Islam began to be introduced to the inhabitants of West Africa through trade from the 2H/8CE century. This research finds that at the end of 4H/10CE and early 5H/11CE centuries, Islam was accepted by the ruling class of West African kingdoms, such as the conversion of rulers of Kanem, Songhay, Takrur and Malal. However, there were also West African rulers who did not embrace Islam such as the ruler of Ghana. Nevertheless, Muslims who resided in their territories were well-treated. Later on, this helped to spread Islam in these territories.

The Almoravid Kingdom played an important role in the course of history of Morocco (al-Maghrib) and the Bilad al-Sudan circa the 11th century A.D. Bennison argued that the Almoravid Kingdom originated from an Islamic reformation movement among the Sanhajah society. Through this movement, the Sanhajah communities were unified, forging a military alliance among them. The movement had a mission of spreading the true teachings of Islam through jihad. It is therefore the objective of this study to analyse the process of jihadi movement of the Almoravids in al-Maghrib and the Sudan in the 11th century A.D. In general, this article is a qualitative study, using a historical study and content analysis method in accumulating and analysing information available from relevant primary and secondary sources. Results of this study argued that the Almoravid Kingdom began with a reform movement led by Abd Allah ibn Yasin among the Sanhajahs. The movement evolved into a kingdom after seizing control important territories throughout al-Maghrib. This kingdom became more powerful under the leadership of Abu Bakr ibn Umar and Yusuf ibn Tashfin.