The Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (ISMC) and East Africa Institute (EAI) jointly organised a two-day conference exploring the relationship between Muslims and the governance structures of the countries in which they reside.
Recent studies of Muslims in East Africa have tended to study Muslims in relation to security issues, or to explore the reforms attempted within the communities and their implications for Muslim theology, rituals and general welfare. Speakers at the conference highlighted how adopting an alternative approach that focused on the role of institutions, the law and politics could shed light on subjects that have been downplayed to date.
“Our goal was to explore the relationship between Muslims and the governance of the countries in which they reside as citizens or residents,” said ISMC conference convenor Dr Farouk Topan. “Such an approach, which also considers issues related to security, culture and general welfare permits us to view the attitudes and activities of Muslims both in relation to themselves and to the various challenges they face in common with their fellow compatriots and citizens,” he added.
In his keynote address at the event, East Africa Institute’s conference convenor Dr Alex Awiti highlighted the findings of the EAI’s surveys of youth opinion on governance and democracy.
“The perceptions of East Africa’s youth underscore a deep and concerning contradiction — passion and apathy for politics,” Dr Awiti said. “Essentially, youth are enthusiastic about the political process but deeply distrusting of the outcomes of political participation. The youth appear to honour and respect elections but despise the people they elect, the politicians and the governments they form,” he concluded .
Other speakers at the event included Halkano Wario, a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, History and Religion at Kenya’s Egerton University, who discussed notions of Kenyan identity in relation to discourses of deradicalisation. Abdulkadir Hashim from the University of Nairobi also shared his thoughts on the role of Kadhi courts in the Kenyan judicial system.
Leif Stenberg, Director of AKU-ISMC said; "This conference was notable for the breadth of contributions we received. It was a truly international event - both in organisation and delivery. Our speakers came together from around the world to share their considerable knowledge and expertise on this most important subject. I now look forward to the publication that will follow this conference."
Participants in the event included a host of international academics, a range of representatives from local and international governmental and non-governmental organisations, as well as distinguished scholars from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (ISMC) and East Africa Institute (EAI) jointly organised a two-day conference exploring the relationship between Muslims and the governance structures of the countries in which they reside.
Recent studies of Muslims in East Africa have tended to study Muslims in relation to security issues, or to explore the reforms attempted within the communities and their implications for Muslim theology, rituals and general welfare. Speakers at the conference highlighted how adopting an alternative approach that focused on the role of institutions, the law and politics could shed light on subjects that have been downplayed to date.
“Our goal was to explore the relationship between Muslims and the governance of the countries in which they reside as citizens or residents,” said ISMC conference convenor Dr Farouk Topan. “Such an approach, which also considers issues related to security, culture and general welfare permits us to view the attitudes and activities of Muslims both in relation to themselves and to the various challenges they face in common with their fellow compatriots and citizens,” he added.
In his keynote address at the event, East Africa Institute’s conference convenor Dr Alex Awiti highlighted the findings of the EAI’s surveys of youth opinion on governance and democracy.
“The perceptions of East Africa’s youth underscore a deep and concerning contradiction — passion and apathy for politics,” Dr Awiti said. “Essentially, youth are enthusiastic about the political process but deeply distrusting of the outcomes of political participation. The youth appear to honour and respect elections but despise the people they elect, the politicians and the governments they form,” he concluded .
Other speakers at the event included Halkano Wario, a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, History and Religion at Kenya’s Egerton University, who discussed notions of Kenyan identity in relation to discourses of deradicalisation. Abdulkadir Hashim from the University of Nairobi also shared his thoughts on the role of Kadhi courts in the Kenyan judicial system.
Leif Stenberg, Director of AKU-ISMC said; "This conference was notable for the breadth of contributions we received. It was a truly international event - both in organisation and delivery. Our speakers came together from around the world to share their considerable knowledge and expertise on this most important subject. I now look forward to the publication that will follow this conference."
Participants in the event included a host of international academics, a range of representatives from local and international governmental and non-governmental organisations, as well as distinguished scholars from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.