Africa Federation

History of Africa Federation Leaders

Abdulhussein H. Nurmohamed

1946 - 1949

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

2. Vice Chairman - M.A. Khimji

3. Hon. Secretary - Gulamhussein N. Lakha

4. Hon. Treasurer - Abdulrasul M. Dewji

Abdulrasul bhai N. Virji

*1950 - 1953

1. Chairman - Abdulrasul bhai N. Virji

2. Vice Chairman - H. K. Jaffer

3. Hon. Secretary - Mohamedali Janmohamed

4. 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..

*1953 - 1956 / 1956 - 1959

1. Chairman – Abdulhusein H. Nurmohamed

2. Vice Chairman - Mohamed Abdallah Khimji

3. Hon. Secretary - Gulamhussein N. Lakha

4. 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.

Ebrahimbhai Sheriff Dewji

*1959 - 1962 / 1962 - 1965

1. Chairman - Ebrahim Sheriff Dewji

2. Vice Chairman- Mohammedali Sharrif Jiwa

3. Hon. Secretary - Hassanali P. Visram

4. 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.

Alhaj Mohammed Ali Shariff Jiwa

*1964 - 1965

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

Mohammedali bhai Meghji

* 1965 - 1968

1. Chairman – Alhaj Mohammedali bhai Meghji

2. Vice Chairman - Hassanali Ladak

3. Hon. Secretary – Mulla Asgharali M.M. Jaffer

4. Hon. Treasurer - Hassan Ali M Jaffer

*1968 - 1971

1. Chairman – Alhaj Mohammedali bhai Meghji

2. Vice Chairman - Alhaj Alimohamed Jaffer Sheriff Dewji

3. Hon. Secretary - Jafferali H. Asaria

4. Hon. Treasurer - Jafferali M. Merali

*1971 - 1974

1. Chairman – Alhaj Mohammedali bhai Meghji

2. Vice Chairman - Mulla Asgharali M.M. Jaffer

3. Hon. Secretary - Bashir H. Peera

4. 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.

Mulla Asgharali M.M. Jaffer

*1974 - 1977

1. Chairman - Mulla Asgharali M.M. Jaffer

2. Vice Chairman - Hussein Nasser Walji

3. Hon. Secretary - Bashir Peera

4. Hon. Treasurer - Gulamali E. Karim

*1977 - 1980

1. Chairman - Mulla Asgharali M.M. Jaffer

2. Vice Chairman - Abdulrasul A. Lakha

3. Hon. Secretary - Akberali A. Karim

4. 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.

Alhaj Abdulrasul A. Lakha

*1980 - 1983

1. Chairman – Alhaj Abdulrasul A. Lakha

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

3. Hon. Secretary - Mohamedraza Datoo

4. 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.

Mohamed bhai Dhirani

* 1983 - 1986

1. Chairman - Mohamed bhai Dhirani

2. Vice Chairman - Habib Mulji

3. Hon. Secretary - Mohamed Rafiq Somji

4. Hon. Treasurer - Akber Dhirani /Mohamed Hassam

*1986 - 1989

1. Chairman - Mohamed bhai Dhirani

2. Vice Chairman - Habib Mulji

3. Hon. Secretary - Mohammed Somji

4. Hon. Treasurer - Mohamed Hassam

*1995 - 1998

1. Chairman - Mohamed bhai Dhirani

2. Vice Chairman - Mohamed Pirbhai

3. Hon. Secretary - Mohammed Somji

4. Hon. Treasurer - Mohamed Hassam

*1998 - 2001

1. Chairman - Mohamed bhai Dhirani

2. Vice Chairman - Mohamed Pirbhai

3. Hon. Secretary – Asger J. Dhanji

4. 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.

Alhaj Habib bhai Mulji

*1989 - 1992

1. Chairman- Alhaj Habib bhai Mulji

2. Vice Chairman - Mohamed Rafiq Somji/Mohamed Khalfan

3. Hon. Secretary - Habib Virani

4. Hon. Treasurer - Murtaza Walji

*1992 – 1995

1. Chairman- Alhaj Habib bhai Mulji

2. Vice Chairman - Habib Virani

3. Hon. Secretary - Murtaza Walji

4. 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.

Alhaj Zulfikar bhai Khimji

* 2001 - 2004

1. Chairman – Alhaj Zulfikar bhai Khimji

2. Vice Chairman – Alhaj Ramzan Nanji

3. Vice Chairman CROI - Mohammedraza Khamis

4. Hon. Secretary - Hussein Rashid / Barkat Rajani

5. Hon. Treasurer - Mustafa Pirmohamed

*2004 - 2007

1. Chairman – Alhaj Zulfikar bhai Khimji / Alhaj Ramzan Nanji

2. Vice Chairman - Ramzan Nanji/ Dr. Asgher Moledina

3. Vice Chairman CROI - Mohammedraza Khamis

4. Hon. Secretary - Barakat Rajani/ Fazleabbas Chandoo

5. 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.

Alhaj Ramzan Mulla Nanji

*2004 - 2007

1. Chairman – Alhaj Ramzan Mulla Nanji

2. Vice Chairman - Dr. Asgher Moledina

3. Vice chairman CROI - Mohamedraza Khamis

4. Hon. Secretary - Fazleabbas Chandoo

5. Hon. Treasurer - Murtaza Kanani

*2007 - 2010

1. Chairman – Ramzan Mulla Nanji

2. Vice Chairman - Zulfikar Dewji

3. Hon. Secretary - Fazleabbas Chandoo

4. Hon. Treasurer - Murtaza Kanani

Ramzan bhai continued the mission of marhum Zulfikar bhai Khimji. He launched the Zulfikar Ali Khimji Memorial Fund (ZAKMEF) project keeping the legacy of marhum Zulfikar bhai alive. This project was to collect funds for higher education loan for students both, boys and girls to pursue further studies up to university/college levels for bachelor’s degrees or advance diploma course.

During his tenure, Ramzan bhai improved the property portfolio by disposing off the old buildings whose yields were minimal and re-invested the money including funds raised through donations to acquire four residential properties in good locations in Dar es Salaam for rental, and whose income is used for ZAKMEF higher education loans for students.

Ramzan bhai was also very keen to promote Tabligh within the indigenous Shia population, Nairobi and Nakuru Centres in Kenya were further developed with the support from Mulla Nanji family.

Alhaj Anwarali Dharamsi

*2010 – 2013

1. Chairman – Alhaj Anwarali Dharamsi

2. Vice Chairman - Shabir Najafi

3. Vice Chairman CROI - Sabirhoussen Goulamlay

4. Hon. Secretary - Aunali Khalfan

5. Hon. Treasurer - Mohammed Hemani

*2013 - 2016

1. Chairman – Alhaj Anwarali Dharamsi

2. Vice Chairman - Shabir Najafi

3. Vice Chairman CROI - Navazaly Molou

4. Vice Chairman UAKSIR - Amine Nassor

5. Hon. Secretary - Aunali Khalfan

6. Hon. Treasurer - Mohammed Hemani

Alhaj Anwer bhai’s vision and mission was to forge closer ties with the parent body - The World Federation and the Regional Federations. His key objective was to strengthen Africa Federation in administration, operations and finance, giving greater focus in economic empowerment, housing, tabligh and secular education thereby creating a sound base for the community at large. During his two terms (6 years) he enhanced communications with member Jamaats, through visits and networking which improved the working relationships with member Jamaats in mainland Africa and Territorial councils in the Indian Ocean Islands of Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion.

Several projects were initiated during his term, including housing projects; Al Sadiq in Tandamti at Kariakoo in Dar es Salaam and Al Qa’eem Residency in Arusha. Anwar bhai’s vision to make AFED self-sufficient resulted in acquisition of a large property at a prime location on Julius Nyerere Road – and development of Umoja Commercial Complex Phase One consists of 20 Warehouses, first of its kind in AFED. AFED also acquired a 10 Warehouses complex in Mombasa, Kenya whose income supports the Tabligh activities in Africa.

A milestone achievement derived when Conseil Regional of Madagascar (CROI) after a lapse of about 7 years rejoined AFED in 2011. One more feather in the AFED’s cap was when Reunion Association became a new member of AFED in 2013, thus opening a new chapter in the history of AFED. Reunion Island (UAKSIR) is located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and southwest of Mauritius. Anwar bhai strongly believed in building strong relationships with all Jamaats and Institutions under AFED, he maintained good relationships with other communities and faiths, building bridges of good understanding and cooperation with other sects and faiths, he would always encourage member Jamaats to do the same.

He also visited many Jamaats in Africa, including those in the Indian Ocean Islands of Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion. During his tenure, AFED made great strides in establishing contacts with medical institutions in India for better and reasonable medical treatments for community members from Africa.

In the month of March 2015, civil war broke out in Yemen and attack from the neighboring countries destroying virtually entire infrastructure of this poor country, the situation was quite risky and the safety of our community members was a big concern. The World Federation along with AFED and other Regional Federations played crucial role in the evacuation of the stranded families from Aden, Sanaa, Hodayda and Mukalla. Once again, Hon. Sajjad bhai Rashid of Mombasa made two daring voyages to Aden to evacuate our community members to a temporary/transit accommodation in Djibouti.

From there some went to India, Pakistan, Iraq and Africa. A committee led by Br. Shan-e-Abbas Hassam, Secretary General of the World Federation coordinated the entire operations. Anwar bhai recalls, one of the most worrying situations experienced during his two terms was the Yemen situation concerning the safety and evacuation of the families who were uprooted from a country where they lived for over 100 years. Huge cost was involved, thanks to the generosity and magnanimity of our community members from Africa and other parts of the world who contributed generously towards the cost of evacuation, transit accommodation and settlement of the families.

Alhaj Shabir bhai Najafi

*2016 - 2019

1. Chairman – Alhaj Shabir bhai Najafi

2. Vice Chairman - Aunali Khalfan

3. Vice Chairman CROI - Navazaly Molou/ Sheikh Haniphe Akbaraly

4. Vice Chairman UAKSIR - Amine Nassor

5. Hon. Secretary - Hussein A. Karim

6. Hon. Treasurer - Mohammed Hemani

Supplementing on the foundation led by his predecessor Alhaj Shabir bhai’s vision is covers areas such as housing, education, women empowerment, health and tabligh. For the current term, the focus is in housing schemes to help our community members to own a decent home under the Rent-to-Own and Home-to-Own Schemes. Starting with Al Asghary residency (18 flats and 3 shops) in Dar es Salaam city which was jointly developed by AFED, the World Federation, The SANITAS of UK, Alhaj Ahmed Daya and Alhaj Gulam Dewji (GD), the building is already completed and occupied. The 2nd housing project by the name of Amira Apartments (40 flats) in [[Dar es Salaam through the support of Alhaj Ahmed A. Daya of U.K. has also started and the work is progressing well.

AFED’s strategy is to create housing scheme of “rent to own” based on the needs in the constituent Jamaats and also to continue with the commercial projects to support AFED’s resources to enabling to have a strong base for income for its activities like tabligh, higher education loan schemes, housing scheme etc.

The 2nd Phase of Umoja commercial complex in Dar es Salaam, housing schemes in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Antananarivo in Madagascar are some examples of the ongoing projects of AFED.

A lot of emphases are put in closer working relationships and active involvements in community affairs at regional as well as global levels. Regular visits to the constituent Jamaats of AFED, Regional Federations and the World Federation, all working as one family for prosperity and progress for the broader community.

Prepared by: Murtaza R. Jivraj (Kerbala)

SECRETARIAT

AFRICA FEDERATION ARCHIVES SECTION

12th April 2019 / 6th Shabaan 1440 AH