European imperialism had an economic and political impact on West Africa in the early 19th century due to the introduction of Western ideas and new trading partners; However, despite the efforts of Christian missionaries, the region's religion, Islam, continued to grow and escape any major impact from imperialism. The imperial occupation of one country by another inherently causes a tidal wave of change. Europe's imperialist ambitions have reshaped West African economies due to the establishment of Western economic policies, ideologies and trading partners. West Africa had many trade ties with Europe, but one of the most significant changes came with Britain's abolition of slavery in 1833. Africa was the he epicenter of the slave trade and the Gold Coast of West Africa monopolized the slave trade from the mid-18th century until its suppression. Europe's suppression of the slave trade caused the West to turn to a legitimate trade that consisted of other highly sought-after, but legal, goods such as gold, ivory, and vegetable oils, notably palm oil. The British used palm oil in making soaps, candles, and lubricants, and the extent to which Africans exported the product changed many aspects of their lives. For example, the high demand for palm oil has allowed it to completely transform the social structure of African coastal communities. Coastal traders used the wealth they accumulated from the palm oil trade to purchase slaves to operate the large canoes that transported palm oil and other products from inland markets to the ports of coastal trade. Although many considered slavery in the Niger Delta region to be brutal work, many slaves were paid well and some were... middle of paper ...... did not tolerate the mixing of l Islam with indigenous African customs. The Sokoto Caliphate created a special tax that all non-Muslims must pay. Jihads against so-called pagans led to the death, enslavement, or forced conversion of many non-Muslims. Thus, for the first time, many rural Africans practiced Islam as opposed to indigenous religions. Although Islam in West Africa faced some internal reforms, it remained significant and continuous in the face of European imperialism. In the early 19th century, Europeans launched a wave of imperialism in Africa that would ultimately culminate in the monumental Scramble for Africa. Europe's imperial ambitions impacted the economies and politics of West Africa, as the introduction of new ideas disrupted customs that had been in place for thousands of years, but the main religion of the region, Islam, continued to dominate..