Islam might be a step up intellectually for much of Africa, sad as that may be. Prior to importing Islam, they were worshipping rock and tree spirits.
Funny you should say that. Here is a quote from mad Mo himself...
“The Day of Judgment will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews, and the Muslims will kill them; until the stones and trees will say, ‘O Muslim, O servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him.’”
So they just took to listening to rocks and trees instead of merely worshipping them.