US grant funds West African Islam database at MSU

By AP

EAST LANSING, MI – The federal government is sponsoring a three-year effort at Michigan State University to build an online library about Islam and Muslims in West Africa.

The university says the National Endowment for the Humanities grant will underwrite creation of a "digital repository of information for scholars, researchers, teachers and students."

Project leader professor David Robinson says the "tremendous impact" of the 9/11 terrorist attacks shows the importance of scholars helping Americans gain an accurate understanding of Islamic cultures.

Michigan State's Center for Humane, Arts, Letters and Social Studies Online will collect and create access to photographs and video as part of the $250,000 project.