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Paper short abstract:

This paper examines Islam's connection with African pop culture emphirically, dismantles stereotypes and terrorism links, and emphasizes peace. It analyzes and suggests strategies to counter Islamophobia, enhance media literacy, and promote interfaith efforts.

Paper long abstract:

This paper explores the relationship between Islam and African popular culture, focusing on Contestations, Conflicts, and Coexistence. It aims to challenge common stereotypes and biases against Islam and highlights the religion's message of peace. It also examines the misconceptions linking Islam with terrorism and violence and emphasizes the linguistic roots of the word "Islam," which means peace. The paper navigates the UN's definition of Islamophobia and discusses the role of institutional, ideological, political, and religious factors in perpetuating cultural and structural racism against Muslims. It also stresses the Quranic imperative to embrace diversity and promotes religious tolerance through verses that advocate respect for different beliefs. The paper explores the roots of Islam's portrayal as inherently violent, often exacerbated by media-biased reports, especially with the rise of media convergence, delving into both historical and contemporary issues. The paper suggests comprehensive strategies emphasizing peace messaging and the freedom of religious expression, mainly through Islamic popular culture. It also highlights the importance of news and media literacy in debunking myths related to Islam and Muslims. The study concludes by suggesting collective efforts across diverse faiths and promoting interfaith dialogues to foster mutual respect, tolerance, and understanding. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of challenging false narratives and promoting evidence-based information to combat Islamophobia and promote unity through peace messaging and media literacy.