Islam in the Service of Colonialism? Portuguese Strategy during the Armed Liberation Struggle in Mozambique

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	Islam in the Service of Colonialism? Portuguese Strategy during the Armed Liberation Struggle in Mozambique
Author:	Alpers, Edward A.
Year:	1999
Periodical:	Lusotopie
Pages:	165-184
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Mozambique Portugal
Subjects:	Islam colonialism national liberation movements History and Exploration Women's Issues Religion and Witchcraft violence
External link:	http://lusotopie.sciencespobordeaux.fr/alpers.pdf
Abstract:	After centuries of anti-Muslim propaganda and action, during the armed liberation struggle in Mozambique (1960s-1970s) the Portuguese colonial regime made a strategic decision to recruit the Muslim leadership of northern Mozambique as a conservative force in opposition to the secular, revolutionary nationalism of Frelimo, the Mozambique Liberation Front. One result of this ultimately futile tactic was that it produced a wealth of information about the organizational structure of the Qadiriyya and Shadhiliyya 'turuq' (Sufi orders) in Mozambique. Based upon documentation from the Arquivo Histórico de Moçambique in Maputo, this paper analyses the ambiguous relationship between the Portuguese colonial State and the indigenous Islamic communities in Mozambique during the period of the armed liberation struggle. Notes, ref., sum. in English, French and Portuguese (p. 585-586).