Evaluate the role of trade in the Islamization of East and West Africa.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the Islamization of East and West Africa, weighing up the importance or otherwise of the role of trade. Candidates may refer to the impact of merchants in spreading ideas across the most important trading routes of the two regions and they may suggest the impact was stronger in one are than it was in the other. Both importance and limitations of the role of trade must be clearly indicated but there does not need to be an equal focus on each. While other relevant factors, for example the impact of scholarship, may be referred to, the bulk of the response will remain on the issue raised in the question.