A journey through the Mauritanian wilderness to visit Murabit al-Hajj Night was upon us- that uncompromising, pitch-black type that enshrouds...
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West Africa
Mustafa Briggs on spiritual seclusion in The Gambia The small coastal town of Gunjur lies just an hour away from...
The story of Islam in any region – from Persia to Punjab, Sumatra to the Sahel – is unique, each...
Nsenga Knight on the African Muslim manuscripts and writings that contradict the dominant narrative on ‘slaves’ and Africa, and how...
One of the peculiar sensations seasoned wayfarers fail to mention, as you pack your bags in preparation for your journey...
Neither Napoleon nor Lenin and Marx are divinely inspired So do not be fooled by their theories But a book...
It was a blistering hot day right in the middle of the Mauritanian Sahara desert, and my friends and I...
“When we speak of ‘shooting’ with a camera, we are acknowledging the kinship of photography and violence.” Teju Cole This visual essay...
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'.
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.
When talking about the history and legacy of Islam in West Africa, many people are now discovering the vast scholarly...
It’s a warm evening in the small Senegalese village of Medina Baye. Night prayers have just been completed, and the...
