Islam in Sierra Leone Mauvi Sadeeur Rahman. In the early 18th century Fulani and Mande-speaking tribesmen from the Fouta Djallon region of present-day Guinea converted many Temne of northern Sierra Leone to Islam. During the period of British colonization, attempts to spread Christianity were mostly ineffective. Islam continued to spread after independence in 1961; in 1960 the Muslim population was 35 percent and grew to 60 percent by 2000, and then to 71% in 2008. It is difficult for people from Sierra Leone to travel to Mecca for the Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, due to the distance between the two places and
Michele Pillar Michele Pillar Michele Diane Pillar (born July 26, 1955) is a contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter and occasional actress. Despite recording only a handful of studio albums, her music has made a lasting influence in the genre having earned three Grammy Award nominations. Pillar's early credits include singing classic songs for the Maranatha! Music Praise Albums II, III, IV and V with solos such as, "Jesus What A Wonder You Are", "In Moments Like These" and "Thou Art Worthy". Pillar's album "Reign on Me" and her project with Erick Nelson, "The Misfit", are now considered classics of the CCM genre.