"There is a history of black people without Brazil but there is no history of Brazil without black people." - Januario Garcia
Illuminating the Blackness: Blacks and African Muslims in Brazil
Written by historian and published writer Habeeb Akande.
Illuminating the Blackness presents the history of Brazil's race-relations and African Muslim heritage. The book is separated into two parts. Part I explores the issue of race, anti-black racism, white supremacy, colourism, beauty and affirmative action in contemporary Brazil. Part II examines the reported African Muslims’ travels to Brazil before the Portuguese, the slave military revolts in Bahia and the West African Muslim communities in nineteenth century Brazil.
The author explores the black consciousness movement in Brazil and examines the reasons behind the growing conversion to Islam amongst Brazilians, particularly those of African descent. The author also shares his insights into the complexities of race in Brazil and draws comparisons with the racial histories of the pre-modern Muslim world including a comparative analysis of the East African Zanj slave rebellions in ninth century Baghdad with the West African Hausa and Yoruba slave rebellions in nineteenth century Bahia.
Click here to order the book from Amazon
Written by historian and published writer Habeeb Akande.
Illuminating the Blackness presents the history of Brazil's race-relations and African Muslim heritage. The book is separated into two parts. Part I explores the issue of race, anti-black racism, white supremacy, colourism, beauty and affirmative action in contemporary Brazil. Part II examines the reported African Muslims’ travels to Brazil before the Portuguese, the slave military revolts in Bahia and the West African Muslim communities in nineteenth century Brazil.
The author explores the black consciousness movement in Brazil and examines the reasons behind the growing conversion to Islam amongst Brazilians, particularly those of African descent. The author also shares his insights into the complexities of race in Brazil and draws comparisons with the racial histories of the pre-modern Muslim world including a comparative analysis of the East African Zanj slave rebellions in ninth century Baghdad with the West African Hausa and Yoruba slave rebellions in nineteenth century Bahia.
Click here to order the book from Amazon
Encantada pelo trabalho desse grande escritor e dessa pessoa maravilhosa!! Com um trabalho tão bonito e enriquecedor fala de uma forma tão rica e simples sobre os negros. Apesar de não ser daqui, ele vê que a realidade do nosso país é muito triste quando o assunto é Racismo. Infelizmente ele existe, e muitas vezes, está escondido em pessoas de bom coração, o que eu achava que não podia. Espero que seu trabalho conscientize cada vez mais as pessoas sobre a importância do ser humano, independente de sua cor, pois raça só existe uma: A raça humana. E continue com essa simplicidade de sempre!! Muito sucesso para você ;) - Anete Freitas
"Enchanted by the work of this great writer and such a wonderful person!! with such a beautiful job and enriching talks in a way that is so rich and simple about the blacks. Despite not being here, he sees that the reality of our country is very sad when the matter is racism. Unfortunately he exists, and often, is hidden in people of good heart, what I thought I couldn't. I hope that your work hold each time more people about the importance of the human being, regardless of their colour, because there is only one race: the human race. And continue with that simplicity of always!! Much success to you " - Anete Freitas
Illuminating the Blackness is a main text book for an undergraduate course;
Illuminating the Blackness is available from the following university libraries;
Academic review of Illuminating the Blackness from the following journals
Review in the following websites:
- Duke University - Middle East in Latin America course, click here
Illuminating the Blackness is available from the following university libraries;
- School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), click here
- University College London (UCL), click here
- Cambridge University, click here
- University of Oxford, click here
- La Salle University, click here
Academic review of Illuminating the Blackness from the following journals
- Black Theology, click here
- Brasiliana: Journal for Brazilian Studies, click here
- Journal of Islamic Studies, Oxford University (pending) click here
Review in the following websites:
Book Review by Richard Reddie in Black Theology: An International Journal
"Habeeb Akande’s book, “Illuminating the Blackness: Blacks and African Muslims in Brazil”, achieves what those documentaries failed to do by properly investigating race relations in the largest South American country, as well as delving into its often overlooked Muslim heritage.
This book, which is divided into two sections, is a fascinating, enlightening read that reveals the complexities and contradictions of this South-American nation. Part one explores issues of race, anti-black racism, white supremacy, colourism, black beauty and affirmative action in contemporary Brazil. Part two examines the reported African Muslims’ travels to Brazil before the Portuguese colonizers, the slave revolts in Bahia and the West African Muslim communities in nineteenth-century Brazil. Of the two sections, the second is arguably the more illuminating as there is a real dearth of academic research focusing on this aspect of Brazilian history."
Source: Black Theology, Issue 1, Volume 15, 2017
"Habeeb Akande’s book, “Illuminating the Blackness: Blacks and African Muslims in Brazil”, achieves what those documentaries failed to do by properly investigating race relations in the largest South American country, as well as delving into its often overlooked Muslim heritage.
This book, which is divided into two sections, is a fascinating, enlightening read that reveals the complexities and contradictions of this South-American nation. Part one explores issues of race, anti-black racism, white supremacy, colourism, black beauty and affirmative action in contemporary Brazil. Part two examines the reported African Muslims’ travels to Brazil before the Portuguese colonizers, the slave revolts in Bahia and the West African Muslim communities in nineteenth-century Brazil. Of the two sections, the second is arguably the more illuminating as there is a real dearth of academic research focusing on this aspect of Brazilian history."
Source: Black Theology, Issue 1, Volume 15, 2017
Illuminating the Blackness Review by Dr Alhagi Manta Drammeh
Illuminating the Blackness is an interesting book with intriguing insights into race issues/relations of the history of Brazil and African Muslim heritage. The book argues powerfully that although a lot is written about race relations in Brazil, the contribution of African Muslims has not been comprehensively explored. In this context, the book celebrates the heroism of African Muslims in fighting servitude. Particularly, it has been observed that the Portuguese elite in the 19th century felt threatened by the presence of African Muslim slaves because of their attachment to the faith of Islam and how they were inspired by the Quran to fight oppression and bondage. The book has specifically highlighted under reporting of the brutality muted against African slaves in South America by the Portuguese for more than three centuries. The author also looks critically into black consciousness and the role of education to eradicated discrimination and racism. He has made references to classical Muslim scholars such as al-Jahiz, al-Suyuti and ibn al-Qayyim among others in terms of their efforts at bringing about social cohesion and racial harmony.
The book critically notes that Islam is not a new thing in Brazil that the history of Islam in Brazil goes back to 9th century. The book makes connection between the abolition of slavery in Brazil and West African Muslims. In fact, history teaches us that playing down the role of Africans and African Muslims in Brazil will be disservice to the history of Brazil.
The book falls under two parts. Part one dwells on race relations in Brazil and the role of African Muslims in the social fabric of Brazil in both historical and contemporary times. Here the author discusses that race is not a biological genetic reality in as much as it is social construction. He has shown the complexities’ of defining race in Brazil. Part two examines the immigration of free Africans to Brazil well before the period of slavery by the Portuguese. He has indicated how historian confirmed the presence of Africans and African Muslims prior to the period of slavery and colonisation by the Portuguese. He spared space for Mandingo speaking people of West Africa who went to South America as early as 10thC.
Finally, the author alludes to the relevance of racial democracy of Islam in Brazil by invoking the relevance of the Prophet’s declaration of universal human fraternity on his farewell message in Makkah.
Habeeb Akande is a prolific writer and raises pertinent issues from historical, anthropological and political perspectives. He blends Islamic scholarship with conventional human scientific approaches. In particular, he has raised important questions about religion, race and history in the light of Brazilian African-Muslim relations. As a Muslim British-born of Yoruba descent, Habeeb has always been interested in Yoruba impact on other cultures around the world. I recommend this book for those interested in learning about the role African Muslims have played and continue to play in the socio-political history of Brazil and south Africa.
Dr Alhagi Manta Drammeh is an Associate of Islamic Theology and Philosophy at the Muslim College and its Academic Coordinator. He is also the Head of Interfaith at the Islamic Cultural Centre/London Central Mosque.
Previously, he was Head of the Study of Islam and Muslims at the Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education Scotland and lecturer at the International Islamic University Malaysia. He writes and publishes in Islam and Contemporary world.
Illuminating the Blackness is an interesting book with intriguing insights into race issues/relations of the history of Brazil and African Muslim heritage. The book argues powerfully that although a lot is written about race relations in Brazil, the contribution of African Muslims has not been comprehensively explored. In this context, the book celebrates the heroism of African Muslims in fighting servitude. Particularly, it has been observed that the Portuguese elite in the 19th century felt threatened by the presence of African Muslim slaves because of their attachment to the faith of Islam and how they were inspired by the Quran to fight oppression and bondage. The book has specifically highlighted under reporting of the brutality muted against African slaves in South America by the Portuguese for more than three centuries. The author also looks critically into black consciousness and the role of education to eradicated discrimination and racism. He has made references to classical Muslim scholars such as al-Jahiz, al-Suyuti and ibn al-Qayyim among others in terms of their efforts at bringing about social cohesion and racial harmony.
The book critically notes that Islam is not a new thing in Brazil that the history of Islam in Brazil goes back to 9th century. The book makes connection between the abolition of slavery in Brazil and West African Muslims. In fact, history teaches us that playing down the role of Africans and African Muslims in Brazil will be disservice to the history of Brazil.
The book falls under two parts. Part one dwells on race relations in Brazil and the role of African Muslims in the social fabric of Brazil in both historical and contemporary times. Here the author discusses that race is not a biological genetic reality in as much as it is social construction. He has shown the complexities’ of defining race in Brazil. Part two examines the immigration of free Africans to Brazil well before the period of slavery by the Portuguese. He has indicated how historian confirmed the presence of Africans and African Muslims prior to the period of slavery and colonisation by the Portuguese. He spared space for Mandingo speaking people of West Africa who went to South America as early as 10thC.
Finally, the author alludes to the relevance of racial democracy of Islam in Brazil by invoking the relevance of the Prophet’s declaration of universal human fraternity on his farewell message in Makkah.
Habeeb Akande is a prolific writer and raises pertinent issues from historical, anthropological and political perspectives. He blends Islamic scholarship with conventional human scientific approaches. In particular, he has raised important questions about religion, race and history in the light of Brazilian African-Muslim relations. As a Muslim British-born of Yoruba descent, Habeeb has always been interested in Yoruba impact on other cultures around the world. I recommend this book for those interested in learning about the role African Muslims have played and continue to play in the socio-political history of Brazil and south Africa.
Dr Alhagi Manta Drammeh is an Associate of Islamic Theology and Philosophy at the Muslim College and its Academic Coordinator. He is also the Head of Interfaith at the Islamic Cultural Centre/London Central Mosque.
Previously, he was Head of the Study of Islam and Muslims at the Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education Scotland and lecturer at the International Islamic University Malaysia. He writes and publishes in Islam and Contemporary world.
“History in all its justice has to respect and praise the valuable services which the black has given to this [Brazilian] nation for more than three centuries. In truth, it was the black who developed Brazil.”– Manuel Querino
“Some of those imported into Brazil were from areas of most advanced Negro culture. This explains why some Africans in Brazil - men of Mohammedan faith [i.e. Muslims] and intellectual training - were culturally superior to some of their European, white, Catholic masters. More than one foreigner who visited Brazil in the nineteenth century was surprised to find the leading French bookseller of the Empire’s capital had among his customers Mohammedan Negroes of Bahia; through him these remarkable Negroes, some of them ostensibly Christian but actually Mohammedan, imported expensive copies of their sacred books for secret study. Some of them maintained schools, and the Mohammedan in Bahia had mutual-aid societies through which a number of slaves were liberated.” - Brazilian sociologist Gilberto Freyre
Whitening (Branqueamento)
Racial whitening (branqueamento) is an ideology that was widely accepted in Brazil between 1889 and 1914, as the solution to the "Negro problem" and to 'improve the race' towards a supposed ideal of whiteness.
In the aftermath of the official abolition of slavery in 1888, Brazil’s white elite were concerned with the country’s large non-white population who were perceived as less sophisticated and civilised than white Europeans. The mixed raced and black population were regarded as hinderance to the country’s development and evolution as a First-World nation.[1]
A conscious effort was made by the white ruling elite in Brazil to de-Africanise Brazil by encouraging the immigration of white Europeans in the late nineteenth and eaely twentieth centuries. The Brazilian government subsidised the relocation of the European immigrants, where most of them settled in southern Brazil. A large number of the Europeans that immigrated were the destitute of Europe and not the skilled labourers Brazil’s government envisioned. The European immigrants were soon followed by ‘white’ Arab and Asian immigrants who were given land whilst the recently manumitted mixed raced and black Brazilians were left in an impoverished condition. The government’s national policy of the mass immigration of Europeans to Brazil in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is referred to as the whitening (branqueamento) process in order to dilute the black blood of the country.
The term (branqueamento) is rooted in Latin America and is used more or less synonymous with racial whitening. Branqueamento can be considered in both a symbolic and biological sense. Symbolically, branqueamento represents an ideology that emerged from legacies of European colonialism, which caters to white dominance in social hierarchies. Biologically, branqueamento is the process of whitening by marrying a lighter-skinned individual in order to produce lighter-skinned offspring.
Racial whitening (branqueamento) is an ideology that was widely accepted in Brazil between 1889 and 1914, as the solution to the "Negro problem" and to 'improve the race' towards a supposed ideal of whiteness.
In the aftermath of the official abolition of slavery in 1888, Brazil’s white elite were concerned with the country’s large non-white population who were perceived as less sophisticated and civilised than white Europeans. The mixed raced and black population were regarded as hinderance to the country’s development and evolution as a First-World nation.[1]
A conscious effort was made by the white ruling elite in Brazil to de-Africanise Brazil by encouraging the immigration of white Europeans in the late nineteenth and eaely twentieth centuries. The Brazilian government subsidised the relocation of the European immigrants, where most of them settled in southern Brazil. A large number of the Europeans that immigrated were the destitute of Europe and not the skilled labourers Brazil’s government envisioned. The European immigrants were soon followed by ‘white’ Arab and Asian immigrants who were given land whilst the recently manumitted mixed raced and black Brazilians were left in an impoverished condition. The government’s national policy of the mass immigration of Europeans to Brazil in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is referred to as the whitening (branqueamento) process in order to dilute the black blood of the country.
The term (branqueamento) is rooted in Latin America and is used more or less synonymous with racial whitening. Branqueamento can be considered in both a symbolic and biological sense. Symbolically, branqueamento represents an ideology that emerged from legacies of European colonialism, which caters to white dominance in social hierarchies. Biologically, branqueamento is the process of whitening by marrying a lighter-skinned individual in order to produce lighter-skinned offspring.
“People are no longer scared of identifying themselves or insecure about saying: “I am black and I am beautiful.”” – Elio Ferreira de Araujo
Black Beauty in Brazil
The lack of appreciation for black beauty has not gone unnoticed in Brazil. In the last past few decades Afro-Brazilian women and activists from Brazil’s Movimento Negro (Black Movement) have taken it upon themselves to celebrate the beauty of their blackness and elegance. The topic of black beauty has resulted to several discussions concerning colourism and the apparent preference for lighter skinned women, the politics of black hair, interracial marriages and the invisibility black women in mainstream media, particularly in the fashion industry.
The lack of appreciation for black beauty has not gone unnoticed in Brazil. In the last past few decades Afro-Brazilian women and activists from Brazil’s Movimento Negro (Black Movement) have taken it upon themselves to celebrate the beauty of their blackness and elegance. The topic of black beauty has resulted to several discussions concerning colourism and the apparent preference for lighter skinned women, the politics of black hair, interracial marriages and the invisibility black women in mainstream media, particularly in the fashion industry.
Iluminando a Escuridão: Negros e Muçulmanos Africanos no Brasil
Click here to read more about the history of Islam in Brazil in Portuguese
Click here to read more about the history of Islam in Brazil in Portuguese
Main Text for Course at Duke University
Illuminating the Blackness is one of the main texts for the 'Middle East in Latin America' course syllabus held at the Duke University, John Hope Franklin Center
Duke University, located in the US state of North Carolina, is one of the wealthiest private universities in America and a top producer of international scholars.
Course Description: The course begins with 1492, the fall of Muslim Spain, and the journey of Christopher Columbus to the New World- opening the continent to Iberian colonization. Focuses on the Atlantic slave trade bringing the first Muslim populations to Latin America. Looks at other voyages of discovery-by Ottomans and South Asians-and
ultimately, modern migrations from the Levant. How the Middle East, the Muslim world, and the Jewish diaspora shaped the cultural, ethnic, and political history of Latin America. Proxy conflicts between Palestine and Israel, Arabs and Jews, but transformed. The cross-fertilization of cultures, homelands, and identities via transecting histories and migration patterns, but also through the creative fusion of poetry, music, film, literature, and art.
Illuminating the Blackness is one of the main texts for the 'Middle East in Latin America' course syllabus held at the Duke University, John Hope Franklin Center
Duke University, located in the US state of North Carolina, is one of the wealthiest private universities in America and a top producer of international scholars.
Course Description: The course begins with 1492, the fall of Muslim Spain, and the journey of Christopher Columbus to the New World- opening the continent to Iberian colonization. Focuses on the Atlantic slave trade bringing the first Muslim populations to Latin America. Looks at other voyages of discovery-by Ottomans and South Asians-and
ultimately, modern migrations from the Levant. How the Middle East, the Muslim world, and the Jewish diaspora shaped the cultural, ethnic, and political history of Latin America. Proxy conflicts between Palestine and Israel, Arabs and Jews, but transformed. The cross-fertilization of cultures, homelands, and identities via transecting histories and migration patterns, but also through the creative fusion of poetry, music, film, literature, and art.