The Masjid in Contemporary Islamic Africa

This volume examines the emergence of alternative spaces and architectural landscapes of Islamic practice in contemporary Africa through the lens of the masjid, whose definition as a “place of prostration” has enabled Muslim populations across the continent to navigate the murky waters of the contemporary condition through a purposeful renovation of spiritual space. Drawing from multiple disciplines and utilizing a series of diverse case studies, Michelle Apotsos reflects on the shifting realities of Islamic communities as they engage in processes of socio-political and cultural transformation. Illustrated through the growth of forward-thinking and in flexible environments that highlight how Muslim communities have developed unique solutions to the problem of performing identity within diverse contexts across the continent, she re-imagines the major themes surrounding definitions of Islamic architectural space in the contemporary period in Africa and the nature of the “modernity” as it has unfolded across diverse contexts on the continent.

• Explores how African Muslims are using architecture and space to contend with evolving societal conditions on the continent
• Considering Islam as both a religion and way of life, this re-imagines the masjid in the context of modern Islamic spirituality and practise
• For students and academics interested in the nature of contemporary Islamic identity in Africa, and those interested in the art and architecture of the wider Islamic world