Christianity is the predominantreligion in Gabon, with significant minorities of the adherents ofIslam andtraditional faiths.[2]
Gabon is asecular state and the constitution ensures freedom of religion. Many people practice elements of bothChristianity and traditional indigenous religious beliefs.[2]Christmas andEaster are recognised as public holidays. The 2022 Afrobarometer found that 40.4% of the population identified as Nondenominational Christian and 22.5% as Catholic.[3]
Christianity arrived in Gabon through thePortuguese traders in early 16th century.[4] The ItalianCapuchin friars set up Christian missions in the 17th century. The Portuguese missionaries and Italian friars cooperation ended in the 18th century, and the Portuguese officials expelled the Capuchin friars in 1777. New missions such as theSacred Heart andHoly Ghost, as well asProtestant missions from Europe arrived in the mid 19th century. Catholicism had established itself in Gabon with thePortuguese colonial efforts in 18th century, and grown to be the leading denomination by 1900. With the start ofFrench colonial rule, Christian missions fromParis arrived between 1890s and 1960. Moreevangelical Churches have grown since the mid 20th century.[4]
TheBabongo are aforest people ofGabon on the west coast of equatorialAfrica. They are the originators of theBwiti religion. Other peoples in Gabon have combined traditional Bwiti practices withanimism andChristian concepts to produce a very different modern form of Bwiti. The Bwiti rituals form part of the initiation into the Babongo people. Babonga people's lives are highly ritualised through dance, music and ceremony associated with natural forces and jungle animals.
Islam has had a small presence in Gabon, with about 10% of the people followingSunni practice. The former presidentOmar Bongo converted to Islam in 1973 after a visit to Libya. Under Bongo's one-party rule, Gabon joined theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation in 1974. Gabon reintroduced multiparty democracy in 1993, though Bongo remained president until his death in 2009, upon which his son, also a Muslim, succeeded him.[5][6]
The Constitution provides forfreedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice.[2]
On February 3, 2016, the Gabonese Republic granted official recognition to the localOrthodox Church, including plans to erect the first Orthodox church in the capital cityLibreville.[7]
In 2023, the country was scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom; it was noted that some religious groups reported difficulty in registering with the government.[8]
