Nineteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

This paper focuses on the role of education in the establishment of Islam at the Cape since the arrival of Muslims in the mid-seventeenth century. Muslims arrived as political exiles, slaves, and ‘free blacks’ during the period of Dutch East Indian Company rule (DEIC) and British colonialization. The South African Muslim community forms an integral part of the diverse South African population. As part of the historically oppressed masses, Muslims are regarded as full citizens of the country and they play a significant role socially, politically and economically. Since their early history, Muslims were identified by diverse cultural and religious practices which is better understood in terms of three ‘waves of immigration’ that took place over a period of 300 years. The presentation describes each migratory movement’s cultural contribution that shaped Muslim culture in South Africa. Historically Muslims were engaged in Islamic education which became the main instrument of establishing their religion. This study discusses the history of Muslim education as an integral part of the history of South African education. It describes the first home-based Muslim schools and their subsequent development into fully fledge Muslim state and private schools. Based on the extant literature on Muslim education, the research identified dominant discourses and gaps that form the basis for an argument for further research. The study highlights significant historical events, personalities, and current tendencies in Muslim education, reflective of their class and social position.