Islam in Vanuatu

Islam in Vanuatu is practised by about 500 to 700 members of the small island nation of Vanuatu in Oceania.[1]

History

One of the earliest known Muslims in Vanuatu was Hussein Nabanga, who converted in 1978. Hussein Nabanga was a member of the Mele people and other Mele people (who originated from the Dinny Island of Imere Tenuku) were the earliest to follow. Now there are Muslims throughout many other islands in Vanuatu. Currently there is registered Islamic society looking after religious matters, Muhammad Sadiq Sambo from Mele Village is the current president of the society,The first mosque in Vanuatu was established in 1992, in Mele Village in the outskirts of Port Vila.There is also another mosque on the island of Tanna in Middle bush Area. There is a Prayer Place on the Island of Erromango near Dillons Bay. Most Vanuatuan Muslims are Sunnis but there is also an Ahmadiyya community, the Ahmadiyyas are fairly recent in the country with the first convert of Ni-Vanuatu origin converting in 2005.[2]

Notes

  1. "Vanuatu - Island Dress". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2005-02-15. Retrieved 2007-05-26.
  2. "Muslims in Melanesia: putting security issues in perspective". Australian Journal of International Affairs. Taylor & Francis. 62 (3): 408-429. September 2008.


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