First South African Black Muslim Conference held in Johannesburg

by ASLAM MXOLISI TAWANA

THE historic South African Black Muslim Conference kicked off on April 19 till April 21, 2019, at the Park Continental Hotel, in Johannesburg.

The venue of the conference, which was initially the Amphe Theatre, in Soweto, had to be moved two weeks before the start of the conference due to the overwhelming number of registrations that came through.

The Amphe Theatre, which can only accommodate 140 delegates, would not have been large enough to accommodate the 300 delegates from all corners of South Africa who attended the formal conference and the more than 500 who attended the gala event as per invitation.

Qari Hafidh Mohammad Khoza opened the proceedings at the gala event with a qiraat. After the recitation of the Quran, the gala event observed a moment of silence to honour four deceased individuals, in line with African culture and heritage, who played pivotal roles in Black Muslim communities.

These deceased individuals are Imam Abdullah Haron, Imam Ebrahim Jele (imam of Dlamini Mosque, in Soweto), Alima Zainab Nkumane (madrasah teacher in Winterveldt, Pretoria) and Ouma Duria Shuping (the matriarch of Galeshewe Muslims, Kimberley), may Allah be pleased with them.

Of the Islamic organisations that were invited, only the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), United Ulama Council of SA (UUCSA), South African National Zakah Fund (Sanzaf), Awqaf SA, Imam Haron Foundation and the World Association of Muslim Youth (WAMY) attended the conference.

With an African flavour permeating the conference, delegates were dressed in various African attire in line with their cultural heritage throughout the three days of the event.

From time to time, the conference would break into African song wherein the greatness of Allah was praised, and salutations were sent upon the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad (SAW). The Afro-Muslim group, Ubuntu Islam also entertained the guests at the gala evening with their African songs praising Allah and Rasoolullah (SAW). The mood was jovial and celebratory throughout.

The gala event was addressed by well-known academic and member of the South African Planning Commission, Professor Khadijah Moloi, who addressed the topic of ‘Creation of a community model for Black Muslims in the townships and rural areas’.

The keynote address was delivered by former president of the Muslim Youth Movement, Dr Tahir Sitoto, who spoke on the topic ‘SA Black Muslims, past, present and future’.

The speakers who delivered presentations were well-known and respected ulama, academics, lawyers, engineers, businessmen, authors, politicians, community activists, poets, marriage counsellors and community elders who all delivered high-level lectures at the conference.

The speakers covered a wide range of topics, ranging from developing Black ulama in the township to becoming community leaders, to developing the educational status of Black Muslims, to the issues of nikah vs the paying of lobola, to how to build entrepreneurs amongst the Black Muslim community.

The speaker that stood out was Moulana Fuad Lobi, a third generation Muslim, who spoke about the ‘Role of Black ulama in building Islam’. He started his presentation with a history of Islam in the townships.

Moulana Lobi, who in addition to his Islamic studies also holds an honours degree in Political Science and is the grandson of the pioneering imam of Langa township, in Cape Town, Imam Dawood Lobi, who was a student of Imam Abdullah Haron in the 1950s.

On Sunday, April 21, the conference ended with a decision that it would be an annual event.