When talking about the history and legacy of Islam in West Africa, many people are now discovering the vast scholarly...
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Africa
Each year in Rabi al-Awwal, the small island of Lamu plays host to a three day Maulid festival. Participants arrive...
Muhammad Ayaz Ramjaun visits the sufi saints of Mauritius White sand beaches and clear-blue sea; underwater waterfall illusions, tropical weather;...
In episode six, Zara talks to Muazzam Mir about the history of Islam in East Africa. They talk about the history of Muslims in the region, which goes back to the time of the Prophet (saw) himself. Muazzam explains how Islam spread, beginning with the Swahili coast, and the role of traders, travellers, and sufi tariqahs in the process.
In the heart of Nairobi’s bustling city centre, lies a somewhat peculiar landmark. With the arrival of Sayyid Abdullah Shah...
It was a blistering hot day right in the middle of the Mauritanian Sahara desert, and my friends and I...
One of the peculiar sensations seasoned wayfarers fail to mention, as you pack your bags in preparation for your journey...
Mustafa Briggs speaks to Professor Rudolph Ware, author of the 'Walking Quran', about models of liberation in West Africa. They talk about the West African approach towards power and religion, and consider the diverse response of the ulama to the challenges presented by the transatlantic slave trade and European colonialism. They also discuss how racist colonial policies had the unintended effect of preserving sufism and traditional Islam in the region.
Ibn Battuta (d.1369) the renowned Moroccan qadhi, or judge of Islamic law, is best known as an explorer who traveled...
As soon as I stepped out of the taxi I knew I had chosen the wrong time of day. Without...
“When we speak of ‘shooting’ with a camera, we are acknowledging the kinship of photography and violence.” Teju Cole This visual essay...
With its stunning coral beaches and a history and culture that combines Swahili, Arab, Indian and European influences, Unguja, better known as Zanzibar,...
