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.
In the heart of Nairobi’s bustling city centre, lies a somewhat peculiar landmark. With the arrival of Sayyid Abdullah Shah...
Each year in Rabi al-Awwal, the small island of Lamu plays host to a three day Maulid festival. Participants arrive...
“When we speak of ‘shooting’ with a camera, we are acknowledging the kinship of photography and violence.” Teju Cole This visual essay...
Muazzam Mir speaks to fellow Kenyans, activist and founder of Halal Safaris, Samia Bwana and conservationist and Mandela Washington Fellow, Raabia Hawa, about the conservation of wildlife and the environment, specifically from a Muslim perspective. They discuss the responsibility of travellers to ensure their travel practices are ethical and not harmful.
The Kenyan archipelago of Lamu, nestled on the Swahili coast, is decorated with winding lanes, humble homes and the beautiful...
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.
It’s a warm evening in the small Senegalese village of Medina Baye. Night prayers have just been completed, and the...
When talking about the history and legacy of Islam in West Africa, many people are now discovering the vast scholarly...
Heraa Hashmi on road-tripping through Morocco It began as a casual notion, amidst busy schedules and the occasional glance at...
We follow four young Moroccans as they hitchhike or "autostop" across their homeland.
In episode three, Zara talks to Mustafa Briggs about the history of Islam in West Africa. They discuss the roots of Islam in the region, the intellectual achievements of Timbuktu and other centres of learning, sufism and the empowerment of women through scholarship that can be seen throughout West African history. Mustafa also tells us about his upcoming lecture series 'Beyond Bilal'.