The Muslims of Buganda: a communography of the experiences and lives of the Baganda Muslims during the colonial period

Thesis

This dissertation examines the lives, experiences, and leadership of the Baganda Muslim community during the colonial period (ca. 1900 – 1962). Through an examination of the leadership of the Kibuli Muslim Community and how this group interacted with other Muslim communities within Buganda, this thesis analyses the ways in which the Baganda Muslims worked to navigate the marginalization they faced from the colonial state. This dissertation argues that the discrimination which the Muslims faced from their colonial government was multifaceted and was rooted in part in European fears of Islam and ideologies such as Islam noir. By analysing the colonial state’s approach to education, this thesis shows that educational policies were one of the central ways in which Muslims were marginalized during colonial rule. However, this dissertation also argues that the Muslims found and developed their own routes to educational attainment, working to negotiate the marginalization they faced from the anti-Muslim policies of the colonial government.

Furthermore, this dissertation also studies the ways in which Islam evolved in Buganda and how Islam worked as a tool for social, cultural, and political development. By showing the ways in which Islam was localised, and thus distinct, in Buganda this dissertation argues against unhelpful terminology such as ‘Africanized’ when referring to Islam in the Sub-Saharan region. This dissertation contends that this language is overly racialized and limits understandings of Islam on the African continent; thus it should no longer be used when studying Islam or religion in this region. Finally, this dissertation argues that the political experiences of the Baganda Muslims were distinctive, especially as compared to their Christian counterparts. While elite leaders cultivated an extent of political power, the majority of Ganda Muslims remained removed from national and kingdom level politics. However, this did not mean that Ganda Muslims were apolitical. Rather, they found local ways to engage with political dialogues and effect change for their communities.

Authors: McCollum, B

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-2z22xxb9r
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Subjects: Islam; History; Africa