ABSTRACT
At the heart of the Jakhanke clerical or missionary enterprise lies education. This, far more than trade, has been the instrument of their expansion and spread. The abundance of references in the sources to the aspect of their work indicates not only that this was of paramount importance to them but also that the Jakhanke may have realised that it was the vital focus for their competition with traditional pagan powers for the soul of Black Africa. It is clear that the Jakhanke regard the years at Qur'an school as crucial, not only in the development of the individual child but also in the effectiveness of Jakhanke work and presence in a given area, where they are more likely than not to be, in lineage terms, outsiders and foreigners. There are two categories of scholar: the elementary Qur'an school pupils and the more advanced cIlm school students.
