During the visit, Sheikh Ahmad, who is Nigerian, will be available for journalists to talk about Islamic culture, traditions and Muslim religiosity, beyond the historical and cultural connections between Islam and Bahia. About 500 Muslims from diverse backgrounds – mainly Brazilians, Africans and Arabs – are living in Bahia today. The community is in preparation for Ramadan, the Islamic holy month that begins next July, the Western calendar.

The first Muslims who arrived in Bahia were African slaves, called “malês”. In January 1835, they started the Revolt of Malês, aiming to implement a Islamic government in the region of Bahia called “Recôncavo”. Defeated, the malês were persecuted – some deported, others hanged. Among the main leaders of the movement were Manoel Calafate, Luis Sanim and Elesbão do Carmo.

Islamic Centre

Every Friday, the community members gather together at the Islamic Cultural Center of Bahia (CCIB), located in the neighborhood of Nazaré (Rua Dom Bosco, nº190), to the sacred prayer, that starts at 12:30pm.

The CCIB is open from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 4pm. On Saturdays, there are lessons about education and habits of the islamic tradition, taught by sheikh Ahmad.
O CCIB é aberto de segunda a sábado, das 8 às 16 horas. Aos sábados, há aulas de educação e costumes da tradição islâmica, ministradas pelo sheik Ahmad. O Centro também dispõe de uma biblioteca com livros e artigos sobre o islamismo, aberta ao público. There is also a library full of articles and book about Islam, opened to the public.

Source: Agência de Textos