Everyday Islam in Kumasi: Devout Lay Men and Women in Daily Life

by Gracia Clark

Allabar Women's Islamic School

The wife of an Islamic teacher founded this school in their home, in one of Kumasi's oldest Muslim neighborhoods. A long front room holds beginning, intermediate and advanced groups. It offers Arabic, English, math and sciences classes, and she has hired Muslim and non-Muslim teachers to present the full public school curriculum, although the school gets no government support. The students are mostly married women, who attend part time in between their family and work responsibilities.

Bantama Women's Fellowship

Bantama mosque serves a central Kumasi neighborhood that historically contained a large proportion of Muslim families before colonial rule. On Fridays, a group of women gathers under the supervision of the local Imam, to study the Koran and learn basic Arabic. On two Fridays they heard an explanation of this website project and were invited to record interviews for posting on it. Interviews were held in the large women's side chamber of the mosque before prayers began.

Men

Allabar Women's Islamic School

The wife of an Islamic teacher founded this school in their home, in one of Kumasi's oldest Muslim neighborhoods. A long front room holds beginning, intermediate and advanced groups. It offers Arabic, English, math and sciences classes, and she has hired Muslim and non-Muslim teachers to present the full public school curriculum, although the school gets no government support. The students are mostly married women, who attend part time in between their family and work responsibilities.

Bantama Women's Fellowship

Bantama mosque serves a central Kumasi neighborhood that historically contained a large proportion of Muslim families before colonial rule. On Fridays, a group of women gathers under the supervision of the local Imam, to study the Koran and learn basic Arabic. On two Fridays they heard an explanation of this website project and were invited to record interviews for posting on it. Interviews were held in the large women's side chamber of the mosque before prayers began.

Tafo Women's Fellowship

Old Tafo lies along the main highway north from Kumasi, and was one of the earliest settlements for immigrant Northerners. As an old Muslim community it has several neighborhood mosques, and the imam of one founded a government-supported primary and middle school that offers instruction in the Koran and Arabic language along with the standard national curriculum. This group of women attends that mosque and meets on Fridays to learn Arabic and read the Koran. After hearing about the website project, those who agreed to record an interview for it met us in an empty classroom.

Men



Tafo Women's Fellowship

Old Tafo lies along the main highway north from Kumasi, and was one of the earliest settlements for immigrant Northerners. As an old Muslim community it has several neighborhood mosques, and the imam of one founded a government-supported primary and middle school that offers instruction in the Koran and Arabic language along with the standard national curriculum. This group of women attends that mosque and meets on Fridays to learn Arabic and read the Koran. After hearing about the website project, those who agreed to record an interview for it met us in an empty classroom.

Women

Allabar Women's Islamic School

The wife of an Islamic teacher founded this school in their home, in one of Kumasi's oldest Muslim neighborhoods. A long front room holds beginning, intermediate and advanced groups. It offers Arabic, English, math and sciences classes, and she has hired Muslim and non-Muslim teachers to present the full public school curriculum, although the school gets no government support. The students are mostly married women, who attend part time in between their family and work responsibilities.

Bantama Women's Fellowship

Bantama mosque serves a central Kumasi neighborhood that historically contained a large proportion of Muslim families before colonial rule. On Fridays, a group of women gathers under the supervision of the local Imam, to study the Koran and learn basic Arabic. On two Fridays they heard an explanation of this website project and were invited to record interviews for posting on it. Interviews were held in the large women's side chamber of the mosque before prayers began.

Tafo Women's Fellowship

Old Tafo lies along the main highway north from Kumasi, and was one of the earliest settlements for immigrant Northerners. As an old Muslim community it has several neighborhood mosques, and the imam of one founded a government-supported primary and middle school that offers instruction in the Koran and Arabic language along with the standard national curriculum. This group of women attends that mosque and meets on Fridays to learn Arabic and read the Koran. After hearing about the website project, those who agreed to record an interview for it met us in an empty classroom.

Women



A Secondary School Teacher
Date: 2006

A Secondary School Teacher

"My Mum never gave up."

A Trader and a Teacher
Date: 2006

A Trader and a Teacher

"My uncle saw that I was not interested in marriage, so one day he just called me and said 'I want you to be married to your brother [cousin],' and it worked."

An Arabic Teacher
Date: 2006

An Arabic Teacher

"As I understood the teachings of Islam, I pledged to let my fellow Muslims also know more about Islam and the Koran. That is why I prefer teaching."

Not Every Woman Can Do This Work
Date: 2006

Not Every Woman Can Do This Work

"It is only me, a woman selling these double axles here. My family are proud of me as a woman selling this, because it is not easy for some women to learn this trade."

The Work of God
Date: 2006

The Work of God

"Next time that I greet you, with the grace of God you will also be a Muslim."

Abdu Basit
Date: August 13, 2009

Abdu Basit

"Bicycles have helped me."

Abdul Hannan Al Waiz
Date: August 13, 2009

Abdul Hannan Al Waiz

"I know what is bad and what is good for me."

Ahmed Bashir Baba
Date: August 13, 2009

Ahmed Bashir Baba

"All that we need is unity."

Mohammed Bawa
Date: August 13, 2009

Mohammed Bawa

"First, be honest; second, be patient."

Suleiman Zakaria
Date: August 13, 2009

Suleiman Zakaria

"The religion of Islam is totally about peace"

Abdul Rashid Alhassan
Date: August 15, 2009

Abdul Rashid Alhassan

"You must be seen to be a good Muslim."

Abu Rawbil
Date: August 15, 2009

Abu Rawbil

"Islam teaches us to love one another."

Fuseini Nahidshah
Date: August 15, 2009

Fuseini Nahidshah

"People like coming here."

Ibrahim Abdul Rashid
Date: August 15, 2009

Ibrahim Abdul Rashid

"We don't advise that."

Sadick Jaffo
Date: August 15, 2009

Sadick Jaffo

"I have to respect these people."

Ahmed Abdulah
Date: August 21, 2009

Ahmed Abdulah

"I will drive peacefully; I will come home peacefully."

Ahmed Abubakar Ali
Date: August 21, 2009

Ahmed Abubakar Ali

"I'm a real Zongo man."

Halima Abdallah
Date: August 21, 2009

Halima Abdallah

"I don't think I can marry again."

Muhammed Amin Abu Bakr
Date: August 21, 2009

Muhammed Amin Abu Bakr

"Islam has taught me a lot."

Muhammed Bashiru Danakabu
Date: August 21, 2009

Muhammed Bashiru Danakabu

"They are not doing it for Islam."

Suleman Haruna
Date: August 21, 2009

Suleman Haruna