1972

Source: Black song: the forge and the flame; the story of how the Afro-American spiritual was hammered out (New York, Macmillan) 1972 A.D. Note: Page 30 of the source. Note: Page 31 of the source. Note: Page 31 of the source. Note: Page 32 of the source. This source confirms that different African peoples like the Mandingos have been practicing Judeo-Christian beliefs such as monotheism and the belief in the "son of the High God" long before converting to evangelical Christianity on mass.