:Buddhism in Africa

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{{For|the 2019 South African film|Buddha in Africa}}

Image:Nan Hua Main Temple.jpg in Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa is the largest Buddhist pagoda in Africa.]]

Buddhism is practised in Africa. Though there have been some conversions amongst Africans, the majority of Buddhists in Africa are of Asian descent, primarily of Chinese, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan or Japanese descent.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

South Africa holds the largest Buddhist population in the continent. According to estimates in the 2010s, Buddhist adherents (together with Taoism and Chinese Folk Religion) had been increasing there to between 0.2%{{cite web|url=http://features.pewforum.org/grl/population-percentage.php|title=Global Religious Landscape - Religious Composition by Country|publisher=The Pew Forum|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=1 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101080244/http://features.pewforum.org/grl/population-percentage.php|url-status=dead}} or 0.3%{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_207_2.asp|title=Religious Adherents, 2010 – South Africa|publisher=World Christian Database|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=30 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930204203/http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_207_2.asp|url-status=live}} of the South African population, or between 100 and 150 thousand people, however, the number of practising Buddhists may be lower.

The African countries and territories in the Indian Ocean also have significant Buddhist minorities. Mauritius has the highest Buddhist percentage (between 1.5{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_147_2.asp|title=Religious Adherents, 2010 – Mauritius (0.2% Buddhist + 1.3% Chinese Folk Religion)|publisher=World Christian Database|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403190400/http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_147_2.asp|url-status=live}} to 2%{{cite web |url=http://www.adherents.com/adhloc/Wh_202.html |title=Buddhism in Mauritius (1981) |publisher=Adherents.com |access-date=20 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507045338/http://www.adherents.com/adhloc/Wh_202.html |archive-date=7 May 2017 |url-status=usurped }} of the total population) among African countries due to a high number of Chinese people (nearly 40 thousand or 3% of the Mauritian population{{citation|title=Background Note: Mauritius|publisher=U.S. Department of State|publication-place=U.S. Department of State|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2833.htm|year=2010|access-date=2012-03-24|archive-date=2021-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925230909/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2833.htm|url-status=live}}). However, practicing Buddhists approximately comprise only about 0.4% of the population.{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.mu/portal/goc/cso/file/2011VolIIPC.pdf|publisher=Statistics Mauritius|page=68|title=Resident population by religion and sex|access-date=1 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016141533/http://www.gov.mu/portal/goc/cso/file/2011VolIIPC.pdf|archive-date=16 October 2013}} Madagascar is also home of about 20 thousand Buddhists,[https://web.archive.org/web/20080406130243/http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=141 religiousintelligence.co.uk - Madagascar] about 0.1%{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_137_2.asp|title=Religious Adherents, 2010 - Madagascar|publisher=World Christian Database|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=12 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012044855/http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_137_2.asp|url-status=live}} of the total population. In the Seychelles and Réunion, Buddhists represent nearly 0.1%{{Cite web |url=http://seychellestour.com/seychelles-guide/religion/ |title=Seychelles Travel Guide - Religion |access-date=2013-08-03 |archive-date=2017-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222080750/http://seychellestour.com/seychelles-guide/religion/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_199_2.asp|title=Religious Adherents, 2010 - Seychelles|publisher=World Christian Database|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=12 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012045753/http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_199_2.asp|url-status=live}} to 0.2%{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_184_2.asp|title=Religious Adherents, 2010 – Réunion|publisher=World Christian Database|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=15 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515062342/http://thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_184_2.asp|url-status=live}} of the population.

In North Africa, about 0.3%{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_133_2.asp|title=Religious Adherents, 2010 - Libya|publisher=World Christian Database|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=2 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002091547/http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_133_2.asp|url-status=live}}, [http://www.allgov.com/nations?nationID=3571 AllGov - Libya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119191308/http://www.allgov.com/nations?nationID=3571 |date=2021-01-19 }} (roughly 20 thousand people) of Libya's population are also Buddhists, with most of them being foreign workers from Asia. There are also two Buddhist centers in Casablanca, Morocco.{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=26|title=List of Buddhist centers in Morocco|publisher=BuddhaNet|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035457/http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=26|url-status=live}}

Buddhist centers and temples can be found in many Sub-Saharan African countries such as: Botswana,{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=79|title=List of Buddhist centers in Botswana|publisher=BuddhaNet|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=6 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106042105/http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=79|url-status=live}} Cameroon,{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=30|title=List of Buddhist centers in Cameroon|publisher=BuddhaNet|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=6 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106040422/http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=30|url-status=live}} Ghana,{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=33|title=List of Buddhist centers in Ghana|publisher=BuddhaNet|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=6 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106042107/http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=33|url-status=live}} Guinea,{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2012/af/208156.htm|title=state.gov|publisher=state.gov|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720101748/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2012/af/208156.htm|url-status=live}} Ivory Coast,{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=31|title=List of Buddhist centers in Cote d'Ivoire|publisher=BuddhaNet|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=6 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106042109/http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=31|url-status=live}} Kenya,{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=32|title=List of Buddhist centers in Kenya|publisher=BuddhaNet|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=6 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106040559/http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=32|url-status=live}} Lesotho,{{Cite web |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71308.htm |title=state.gov |access-date=2023-01-14 |archive-date=2022-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405173119/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71308.htm |url-status=live }} Liberia,{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2011/af/192727.htm |title=state.gov |publisher=state.gov |access-date=28 July 2013 |archive-date=25 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325185029/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2011/af/192727.htm |url-status=live }} Malawi,{{Cite web |url=http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,3256,0,0,1,0#.UfWVTdLIZIM |title=Amitofo Care Center, Malawi |access-date=2013-08-03 |archive-date=2013-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806163916/http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,3256,0,0,1,0#.UfWVTdLIZIM |url-status=live }} Mali,{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=34|title=List of Buddhist centers in Mali|publisher=BuddhaNet|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=6 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106042111/http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=34|url-status=live}} Namibia,{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2011/af/192741.htm|title=state.gov - Namibia|publisher=state.gov|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=25 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325145637/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2011/af/192741.htm|url-status=live}} Nigeria,{{Cite web |url=http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/news/general/81936-being-buddhist.html |title=Nigeria News - Being Buddhist |access-date=2013-08-03 |archive-date=2014-01-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106032947/http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/news/general/81936-being-buddhist.html |url-status=live }} Senegal, Sierra Leone,[http://www.sgi.org/news/events/events2009/events090823c.html SGI-Sierra Leone Hosts Buddhist Seminar] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106034308/http://www.sgi.org/news/events/events2009/events090823c.html |date=January 6, 2014 }} Swaziland,{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,11014,0,0,1,0#.Ufb83NLIZIM|title=First Buddhist funeral in Swaziland|publisher=Times of Swaziland|access-date=28 July 2013|archive-date=5 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805115846/http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,11014,0,0,1,0#.Ufb83NLIZIM|url-status=live}} Tanzania,[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2012/af/208204.htm state.gov - Tanzania] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112191145/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2012/af/208204.htm |date=2021-11-12 }}, [http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=35 List of Buddhist centers in Tanzania] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106040420/http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Search&country_id=35 |date=2014-01-06 }} Togo,{{Cite web |url=http://www.sgiquarterly.org/country2006Jly-1.html |title=Fostering Peace in Togo |access-date=2013-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401014424/http://www.sgiquarterly.org/country2006Jly-1.html |archive-date=2017-04-01 |url-status=dead }} Uganda,{{Cite web |url=http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,5414,0,0,1,0#.UfcVy9LIZIM |title=First Buddhist center in Uganda |access-date=2013-08-03 |archive-date=2013-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806170323/http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,5414,0,0,1,0#.UfcVy9LIZIM |url-status=live }} Zambia,[http://www.sgi.org/news/events/events2012/buddhist-study-exams-zambia-korea-usa.html Buddhist Study Exams Held in Zambia, Korea and the USA] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731225148/http://www.sgi.org/news/events/events2012/buddhist-study-exams-zambia-korea-usa.html |date=July 31, 2013 }} and Zimbabwe.{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2012/af/208212.htm |title=state.gov |publisher=state.gov |access-date=30 July 2013 |archive-date=20 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720103059/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2012/af/208212.htm |url-status=live }}

There have also been cases of some high-profile celebrities converting to Buddhism such as Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, a famous British actor of Nigerian descent.{{Cite web|url = http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/interviews/19172-60-seconds-adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje|title = 60 SECONDS: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje|date = 30 August 2006|access-date = 6 October 2010|archive-date = 16 August 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110816013049/http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/interviews/19172-60-seconds-adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje|url-status = dead}}

One of the very few monastics of African descent is Ven. Bhante Buddharakkhita from Uganda, founder of the Uganda Buddhist Centre.