Zanzibari Muslim Moderns

'An engaging and well-written account of the dilemmas faced by Muslims in Zanzibar in the early twentieth century, as they negotiated a path between European modernity and the precepts of Islam.' -- <b>Iain Walker, author of <i>Islands in a Cosmopolitan Sea: A History of the Comoros</i></b> 'Intellectually rigorous, provocative and broadly accessible. Anne persuasively describes the life experiences of Muslim moderns of the antebellum period in Zanzibar through analysis of thought-provoking discourse by Islamist reformists. Read this book to understand Zanzibari life. -- <b>Hassan Mwakimako, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, Pwani University</b> 'Engages the life history and poetry of a highly influential 20th-century scholar to describe how the modern project was ""accented"" for Zanzibar's Muslims, and has significant implications for how we understand the role of East African voices in actively defining Islamic modernity.' -- <b>Caitlyn Bolton, Assistant Professor, Boston College</b> 'At a time when Islam and modernity are often presented as contradictions, Bang's book stands out for its nuanced approach. This is the culmination of lifelong research on the path taken by Muslims in Zanzibar, in their move from religious reform to national solidarity.' -- <b>Issa Ziddy, Associate Professor of Religious Education, State University of Zanzibar</b> 'A brilliant analysis of the life and times of Burhan Mkelle, a Muslim scholar from Zanzibar. Through his writings, Anne Bang reveals the articulation of a uniquely modern Muslim sensibility and its role in shaping culture and education on the islands.' -- <b>Nathaniel Mathews, Associate Professor of Africana Studies, Binghamton University</b>