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There are now seven mosques in the country. The first one was built in Katutura, said imam Ali. (IOL picture)
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WINDHOEK - It is a Friday
afternoon at the Windhoek Islamic Center in
Namibia’s capital. The center’s
grounds are buzzing with activity. Over 50 men
stand in front of the entrance, some normally
dressed in pants and shirts, others more
formal in the traditional Islamic wardrobe,
the thowb; a white robe that almost reaches
the ground.
What is interesting to note
is that most of them are from the Nama tribe,
one of Namibia 13 indigenous tribes, and they
chat away in the language that is full of
clicks and is difficult to comprehend for a
foreigner.
This is no traditional
mosque with its white bearded imam, but the
other side of predominantly Christian Namibia.
The Adhan (call to prayer)
is now the common call in most neighbors in
this country of about 1.8 million people.
"We are like apples
hanging in a tree crowded with pears,"
youthful Imam Ali tells IslamOnline.net.
"But Islam has made a
major impact here and our numbers are
growing."
Government statistics put
the number of Muslims in the country at around
70,000, but Ali disagrees.
"Islam is quite new
here, but the figure might be around
20,000."
Winning Hearts
On why the religion has
such a major following from the Nama, a tribe
considered a minority, Imam Ali tells the
story of Jacobs Salmaan Dhameer, the
country’s incumbent Electoral Commissioner.
"Jacobs attended an
Islamic Conference in Maseru (Lesotho) in 1980
and converted to Islam. He is the country’s
first black Muslim," he recalls.
"When he returned from
the conference he spread the word to his own
people, the Nama. That is why many of them are
practicing Muslims."
Until the early 80s, Islam
was not known to the majority of the people,
despite the existence of small enclaves of
Muslims from the country’s southern neighbor
South Africa who had settled in such coastal
towns as Walvis Bay, Lüderitz and Swakopmund.
To date a core group of
indigenous Muslims has started to grow in the
country and individual Muslims area scattered
all over Namibia, says Imam Ali.
"There are now seven
mosques in the country. The first one was
built in Katutura," he said.
Katutura is Windhoek’s
oldest black township, which was demarcated by
South Africa, Namibia’s former colonial
master, along the country’s 13 tribes.
A weekly session, which
serves as a forum for development of attitudes
and behavioral patterns and the ideological
upward mobility of local Muslims, is one of
the main activities held at the Windhoek
Islamic Center.
Twenty-four Namibians are
currently studying in Saudi Arabia. Others
have been sent for long term Islamic training
in institutions in South Africa.
Appealing
Imam Ali said the Muslim
faith attracts followers from all walks of
life.
"Islam is based on
logic, mentality, mathematics. Two plus two
gives the same answer: four. Everywhere in the
world, and it does not matter if we are
friends or fed up with each other. This
religion is based on wisdom; it is very simple
to accept."
Azi Kazombiaze, a
22-year-old practicing Muslim who reverted in
2000 after speaking to a friend who was
already a Muslims, chips in.
"I asked him questions
and read literature. At the time I was
studying Christianity as well as Islam and it
came to me to embrace Islam," he said.
Kazombiaze says it was the
clarity of the texts that attracted him, the
beauty of the content and the style of
writing.
When asked why so many
Namibians choose Islam, he cites the unity and
brotherhood of Muslims all over the world.
Wherever, whenever, across
the world the same holy book, the Noble
Qur'an, is used and the same language spoken
during prayer.
"It is a perfect way
of life. Islam is Islam. Although my parents
had to get used to it, they now respect my
choice," said a happy Kazombiaze.
"But it came as a bit
of a shock. Never did they imagine that Islam
could change a person so much. Young Muslims
are not like other teenagers that go out
partying. We don't smoke, nor drink alcohol
and don't get into trouble."
He said that even some
people who embraced Islam in prison "are
now on the good path."
Right Choice
Abdullah Aziz Sayman, a
24-year-old fellow Muslim, adds, "I
wanted the right religion."
Sayman reverted after
meeting a person from Cape Town, South Africa,
who told him about Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) and Islam.
"At first I just
listened while he told me that Muslims eat
halal food. What he told me and what I saw
made me happy in my heart. It was all so
nice."
Muslims should only eat
meat from livestock slaughtered by a sharp
knife from their necks, and the name of Allah,
the Arabic word for God, must be mentioned.
Now other goods and
services can also be certified as halal,
including cosmetics, clothing, pharmaceuticals
and financial services.
Like Kazombiaze’s
parents, Abdullah's stood in awe of their
son's choice.
They had no knowledge at
all about Islam. Their opinion has changed
over the years as their son explained the
religion to them.
"Islam has made an
impact," says Abdullah.
But major challenges
remain. Muslim voices are hardly heard while
Christians have airtime on state radio,
television and columns in newspapers.
While the religion calls
for going out and spreading the word of God,
in Namibia this only happens in the mosques.
Why then does not the
Muslim community, if it wants to be heard,
establish its own mouthpiece? "A good
question," answers Imam Ali.
He said starting a magazine
or a newspaper costs money and for that the
help of Muslim businessmen is much needed.
"That will take a long
time."
