Islam had important effects on all aspects of society. For example, men and women's roles sometimes changed. Previously, some African communities treated men and women as equal. Under Muslim laws, this changed. Men became more powerful. Clothing changed, too. Muslim women were encouraged to dress more modestly.

Islamic architecture spread with the religion. Mosques were built for worshippers. There were local differences, though. Mosques on the Swahili coast had their own style. They were different from the mosques in other parts of the Islamic world.
Islam also brought important innovations. They included writing, numbers and measurements. Muslim writers made valuable records of African life. They have helped historians learn much about the past