Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim community which prospered greatly in East Africa, due to its distinct socio-economic and political structure and issues that distinguished it not only from other Indians, but also from other Muslim communities. It shows that their prosperity was also due to the guidance of their leader, the Aga Khan, who also helped them overcome the socio-economic and political issues they encountered as members of East African society.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Brief history & Background of Ismaili Muslims
Migration of Ismailis from India to East Africa
Internal Conflicts within the Ismaili Community
Differences between Nizari Muslims and other Muslims in East Africa
Conflicts within the society as the Aga Khan tries to modernize his community
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Indian merchants have visited East Africa for almost two thousand years to trade ivory, rubber, cattle, goats, grain, copra, gum, copal, hides, and horses. The majority of the Indians settled there today, however, began to emigrate from India during the early nineteenth century during the reign of Said bin Sultan. Said was the ruler of Muscat, who inherited sovereignty over Zanzibar and parts of the African coast, and took this opportunity to develop foreign trade in his dominions. In order to do so, when his capital transferred form Muscat to Zanzibar, he encouraged the immigration of Asian traders to Zanzibar, and also took some Indian advisers with him. He gave them "complete religious, social, and economic freedom." At the time, and probably for generations before it, banking, commerce, and even small retail on the African coast were run by Indians, causing the colony to flourish and grow. Emigration increased significantly between 1840 and the 1870s, and amongst the Indians were also Nizari Khojas (Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims). Though they encountered obstacles on the way, the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim community prospered greatly in East Africa, mostly because of its distinct socio-economic and political structure and issues that distinguished it not only from other Indians, but also from other Muslim communities. Their prosperity was also due to the guidance of their leader, the Aga Khan, who also helped them overcome the socio-economic and political issues they encountered as members of East African society."

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