to Eritrea on the Red Sea. The name Sahel comes from the Arabicsahil, which means "coast," and is how the people living in the regionthink of it-as the shoreline of the vast sand sea of the Sahara. It isanother sort of shore, one where the influence of Islam diminishes.
From the Sahel to the Mediterranean the vast majority of people areMuslims. South of it there is far more diversity in religion. - P118