Africa Federation

1946 to 1949, 1953 to 1956 and 1956 to 1959

1946 - 1949

1st Chairman of Africa Federation – Alhaj Abdulhussein H. Nurmohamed.

Abdulhussein H. Nurmohamed

Vice Chairman - M.A. Khimji

Hon. Secretary - Gulamhussein N. Lakha

Hon. Treasurer - Abdulrasul M. Dewji

1953 - 1956 and 1956 - 1959

Chairman – Abdulhusein H. Nurmohamed

Vice Chairman - Mohamed Abdallah Khimji

Hon. Secretary - Gulamhussein N. Lakha

Hon. Treasurer - Ally Jaffer Sherrif

Prior to 1946 Jamaats already existed in the main cities, towns and villages of Africa, mainly in East Africa. Africa Federation was in its infancy and there was no proper means of communication and roads, it was a big challenge to unite all the Jamaats under the umbrella of the Federation. With the help of its members and with full support of the Jamaats this task was overcome. Unity and dedication was the priority and emphasis was put on religious as well as secular education. Spirituality and Islamic values took precedence over all other sectors of the Federation. In A. H. Nurmohamed bhai’s term the Conferences started to be held. The main purpose of the Federation was to discuss faith, progress and welfare of the Khoja community. In the year 1958 a special fund called Tabligh, and Scholarships were also started. Twenty five members were appointed to tour all member Jamaats to collect the funds. Ebrahim bhai Sheriff Dewji and Maulana Syed Azizul Hassan Naqvi joined the tour.

1950 to 1953

Abdulrasul bhai N. Virji

Chairman - Abdulrasul bhai N. Virji

Vice Chairman - H. K. Jaffer

Hon. Secretary - Mohamedali Janmohamed

Hon. Treasurer - Juma Haji

Abdulhussein Bhai Nasser Virji was elected as chairman to serve for the three years term. He took the Federation forward and maintained the unity and dedication towards the progress, Abdulhusein bhai introduced welfare and education sections. On the religious section Africa Federation started bringing maulanas from India and Pakistan to be stationed as resident Aalims in different Jamaats in Africa.

1959 to 1962 and 1962 1965

Ebrahimbhai Sheriff Dewji

Chairman - Ebrahim Sheriff Dewji

Vice Chairman- Mohammedali Sharrif Jiwa

Hon. Secretary - Hassanali P. Visram

Hon. Treasurer - Mohammedtaki R. Pirbhai

Ebrahimbhai was very ambitious and had toured Middle East to build the relations with the Muslim communities. In 1962 he went to Iraq and met Ayatullah al Udhma Sayyid Muhsin al Hakim. On the recommendation of Ayatullah, the Tabligh work started by Maulana Seyed Saeed Akhtar Rizvi in the year 1963. In the year 1967, Maulana went to Mombasa and had a meeting with the Office Bearers of the Supreme Council in which it was decided to establish two institutions namely Bilal Muslim Mission of Kenya and Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania. In the year 1968, Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania was registered and in 1971 Bilal Muslim Mission of Kenya was registered. Maulana was appointed as the Chief Missionary and also Tabligh Advisor.

In 1962 Africa Federation received the Ijazah from Marja-e-Taqlid and this was the beginning of centralization of Hukuk in Africa.

Ebrahim bhai organized a special entourage to visit the Jamaats of Madagascar, Mauritius and other neighboring Jamaats in the Indian Ocean islands; they were encouraged to join as members of the Federation.

In 1964 Ebrahim bhai Sheriff a dedicated, humble and a far-sighted leader of the Federation on his visit to Zanzibar succumbed to the will of Allah (SWT) and passed away on 10th of January 1964. The sudden death of this illustrious and eminent leader of the Federation sent a shock-wave throughout Africa and beyond its borders. Sadly, at the same time, Zanzibar was engulfed by the revolution in the same month in 1964 and the future of our brothers in Zanzibar and Pemba became uncertain. Many of them migrated to Dar es Salaam, and some ventured to other countries overseas.

The Revolutionary Government had started the system of forced marriages in Zanzibar. Africa Federation played a major role in shifting the would be victims of the forced marriages. Mulla Asgharali M. M. Jaffer was then the Hon. Secretary of AFED based in Mombasa, Kenya. He took charge of shifting some families to Dar es Salaam. The expenses were covered by Africa Federation. The Federation also provided loans and grants to the families who had their businesses looted and destroyed during the revolution.

1964 to 1965

Alhaj Mohammed Ali Shariff Jiwa

Alhaj Mohammed Ali Shariff Jiwa.

Mohamed Ali bhai continued taking forward the missions of Marhum Ebrahim bhai Sherrif Dewji.

1965 to 1968 1968 to 1971 and 1971 to 1974

1965 - 1968

Mohammedali bhai Meghji

Chairman – Alhaj Mohammedali bhai Meghji

Vice Chairman - Hassanali Ladak

Hon. Secretary – Mulla Asgharali M.M. Jaffer

Hon. Treasurer - Hassan Ali M. Jaffer

1968 - 1971

Chairman – Alhaj Mohammedali bhai Meghji

Vice Chairman - Alhaj Alimohamed Jaffer Sheriff Dewji

Hon. Secretary - Jafferali H. Asaria

Hon. Treasurer - Jafferali M. Merali

1971 - 1974

Chairman – Alhaj Mohammedali bhai Meghji

Vice Chairman - Mulla Asgharali M.M. Jaffer

Hon. Secretary - Bashir H. Peera

Hon. Treasurer - Gulamali E. Karim

In 1967 AFED conference in Tanga it was resolved that the Bilal Muslim Mission should be established and registered under Africa Federation. The Mission work would be fully financed by the Federation. Maulana Syed Saeed Akhtar Rizvi who was already doing the Tabligh work, was appointed as Chief Missionary of Bilal and gained full support of all the Jamaats. The propagation of the Ahlulbayt faith was officially approved to be propagated outside the community.

In 1972 the Uganda expulsion came suddenly and AFED was taken by surprise. Our brothers in Uganda helped each other; many of our community members were British citizens and were taken by the British Government. Others who were Ugandan citizens lost their citizenship and had to leave Uganda. Alhaj Sultanbhai Datoo who was the President of Kampala Jamaat organized one-way tickets for them and they finally got asylum in Canada, USA, and some European countries. Some families settled in Kenya.

1974 to 1977 and 1977 to 1980

1974 - 1977

Mulla Asgharali M.M. Jaffer

Chairman - Mulla Asgharali M.M. Jaffer

Vice Chairman - Hussein Nasser Walji

Hon. Secretary - Bashir Peera

Hon. Treasurer - Gulamali E. Karim

1977 - 1980

Chairman - Mulla Asgharali M.M. Jaffer

Vice Chairman - Abdulrasul A. Lakha

Hon. Secretary - Akberali A. Karim

Hon. Treasurer - Mohamedjaffer G. Hasham

This decade was very important in the Africa Federation’s history many of our brothers in Europe had no centres to hold the religious ceremonies. They all started depending on Africa Federation. Africa Federation was in constant touch with them and also provided religious guidance and books. Several Jamaats in Europe and North America received funds for the construction of their centres from our institutions and brothers from East Africa and Madagascar, the association between the Federation and the overseas Jamaats became even stronger and progressive.

Mulla Asgharali decided to start the World Federation, and in 1976 World Federation was registered and Mulla Saheb became the first President of the World Federation. In the establishment of the World federation our Marja-e-Taqlid Ayatollah al Udhma al Sayyid Abulqassim al Khoi offered his full support, as our Khoja brothers in Europe required the centres. The first Khoja Shia Ithna asheri centre was started in Hammersmith in the U.K. and later on then moved to Stanmore. World Federation extended its activities to Europe, North America and India. Our Khoja Jamaats of Europe (COEJ) and North America (NASIMCO) and India became members of World Federation. Africa Federation played a pivotal role in the formation of the World Federation; most of our brothers who were then in Europe and North America were originally from East Africa.

1980 to 1983

Alhaj Abdulrasul A. Lakha

Chairman – Alhaj Abdulrasul A. Lakha

Vice Chairman - Hassan Ali M. jaffer/Yusuf M Kermalli

Hon. Secretary - Mohamedraza Datoo

Hon. Treasurer - Abdulrazak Khalfan

After Mulla Saheb became President of the World Federation, Abdulrasul bhai Lakha became the President of AFED during his term very close relations were maintained with the Jamaats in Western countries; many mosques and centres were built across in Western countries and quite a big donation was organized from East Africa and Madagascar through AFED.

It is interesting to note that the Khoja community was spread all over the world; Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, Australia, North America and Europe are well settled with their own centres. It is also pleasing to see the good cooperation and collaboration between the World Federation and Africa Federation for the wider benefits of the Khoja community worldwide.

1983 to 1986, 1986 to 1989, 1995 to 1998 and 1998 to 2001

1983 to 1986

Mohamed bhai Dhirani

Chairman - Mohamed bhai Dhirani

Vice Chairman - Habib Mulji

Hon. Secretary - Mohammed Rafiq Somji

Hon. Treasurer - Akber Dhirani /Mohamed Hassam

1986 to 1989

Chairman - Mohamed bhai Dhirani

Vice Chairman - Habib Mulji

Hon. Secretary - Mohammed Somji

Hon. Treasurer - Mohamed Hassam

1995 to 1998

Chairman - Mohamed bhai Dhirani

Vice Chairman - Mohamed Pirbhai

Hon. Secretary - Mohammed Somji

Hon. Treasurer - Mohamed Hassam

1998 to 2001

Chairman - Mohamed bhai Dhirani

Vice Chairman - Mohamed Pirbhai

Hon. Secretary – Asger J. Dhanji

Hon. Treasurer – Ahmed H. Alloo

Mohammed bhai Dhirani with long experience in the community services was given the opportunity to serve the community for two terms twice. In his term Mohamedbhai supported Jamaats in housing, education and madressah projects. During these periods Bilal Tabligh Mission extended its wings to the neighboring countries like Mozambique Burundi and DRC - Congo. AFED Jointly with World Federation built 22 flats in Kutch Bhuj in India for our needy brothers. Mohamedbhai is still active and attends the AFED conferences and supreme council sessions at various places in different parts of Africa.

In the year 1997 the 55th Session of AFED Supreme Council was held in Kampala in Uganda after 42 years. Mohamed bhai’s idea was to gather our brothers in Kampala which was once our glorious centre.

Participants expressed their appreciation to Kampala Jamaat for organizing the Session in Kampala which gave them the opportunity to visit the Kampala City which was once a strong wing of AFED, it was also reported that the Jamaat was enjoying with 250 members and with past glory is reviving gradually.

The Chairman also thanked Kampala Jamaat for taking such a mammoth task of hosting the conference it made him proud in spite of a very young Jamaat they took this bold step Jazakallah.

The 11th Supreme Council Meeting of AFED was held in Kampala in 1955 many dignitaries from abroad attended the Conference; among them were Haji Dawoodbhai Haji Nasser of Mumbai, India and Haji Ismail Bhai Abdulkareem Panju.

Sadly, on the 5th April 1985 community lost one of its veterans Councillor from Mwanza Jamaat Alhaj Muhammad Jaffer Nasser during the 43rd Supreme Council meeting held in Arusha Conference Centre. Marhum passed away after making observations on the Chairman's address. Condolence message from AFED Chairman was delivered by Alhaj Mohamedbhai Dhirani.

1989 to 1992 and 1992 to 1995

1989 - 1992

Alhaj Habib bhai Mulji

Chairman- Alhaj Habib bhai Mulji

Vice Chairman - Mohamedrafiq Somji/Mohamed Khalfan

Hon. Secretary - Habib Virani

Hon. Treasurer - Murtaza Walji

1992 – 1995

Chairman- Alhaj Habib bhai Mulji

Vice Chairman - Habib Virani

Hon. Secretary - Murtaza Walji

Hon. Treasurer - Mohamed Hassam

Habib bhai Mulji headed AFED and was instrumental in enhancing the relationships with the World Federation and jointly working in supporting our brothers in Gujarat India AFED helped many of our needy families in Gujarat and other places in India.

In 1991 civil war in Somalia started between different fractions there was no Law and Order, and the Government was almost non-existent. Our brothers in Mogadishu and Merca were trapped in this civil conflicts and violence accelerated. AFED organized a team to go for their rescue. Hon. Sajjad Bhai Rashid of Mombasa, Kenya volunteered and organized a group that went to Somalia to rescue over 800 of our brothers, sisters and children. A special ship was hired with full medical team. Hassan bhai Ali M. Jaffer was monitoring the whole rescue operations and was keeping AFED office bearers informed all the time. Sajjad bhai was awarded several medals for this brave and risky rescue mission he undertook with his team. A Setwell committee was formed to look after and settle our brothers from Somalia many settled in East Africa some migrated to England, Pakistan and other countries in the West. Leadership, Unity, Wisdom and Faith played a big role in the wellbeing of our community.

2001 to 2004 and 2003 to 2007

2001 - 2004

Alhaj Zulfikar bhai Khimji

Chairman – Alhaj Zulfikar bhai Khimji

Vice Chairman – Alhaj Ramzan Nanji

Vice Chairman CROI - Mohammedraza Khamis

Hon. Secretary - Hussein Rashid / Barkat Rajani

Hon. Treasurer - Mustafa Pirmohamed

2004 - 2007

Chairman – Alhaj Zulfikar bhai Khimji / Alhaj Ramzan Nanji

Vice Chairman - Ramzan Nanji/ Dr. Asgher Moledina

Vice Chairman CROI - Mohamedraza Khamis

Hon. Secretary - Barakat Rajani/ Fazleabbas Chandoo

Hon. Treasurer - Murtaza Kanani

Zulfikar Bhai Khimji with a dynamic nature and zeal to steer the youths, encouraged them to study further to higher academic levels. He was instrumental in raising funds and created some scholarships, Alhamdulillah many of our boys and girls took advantage of the support provided by AFED Higher Education Loans. Zulfikar bhai visited almost all Jamaats in East Africa and also Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, Congo and Mozambique.

Zulfikar bhai was a practical person and had the vision to take the Federation to higher level of success. He also took keen interest in Tabligh work of Bilal Muslim Mission and visited many Bilal centres in rural areas. He had a great passion for Madressah, and in higher religious education for our youths.

Sadly, in 2004 when he took over the post of the Chairman of AFED for the 2nd term he was attacked by some thugs in Nairobi city and died from the attack. His death was a shock to the community.