Bagamoyo mosque (Tanzania)
Contents
Brif History
In late 19th Century during German rule, Bagamoyo was the administrative and commercial capital of Tanganyika. There were about twenty-two families of Khoja Shia Ithna Asheris and Khoja Shia Ismailis combined. In the year 1883, it was decided to build a mosque and Imambargha. Alhaj Saleh Jagsi, (the grandfather of Mohamedsaleh Gulamali Jagsi) and the Khoja Shia Ithna Asheris members of Bagamoyo Jamaat raised the funds from Zanzibar and Bagamoyo. Nasser Virjee & Company also contributed. With the supervision of Alhaj Saleh Jagsi, the mosque and Imambargha construction was completed in the year 1889. Alhaj Saleh Jagsi used to bring the Zakir and about 20 Khoja brothers from Zanzibar during the month Muharram to Bagamoyo to bolster the Jamaat for the Ashra majlises and azadari.
In the year 1918 Germany lost the First World War and Tanganyika became a British colony. The Capital was shifted to Dar-es-Salaam. In the late 1930s people started moving out of Bagamoyo to Dar-es-Salam. In 1950s Jamaat ceased to exist and there were no activities in the mosque and Imambargha.
Revival of Mosque
In 1960’s Amirbhai Kanji the mukhi of Dar es Salaam Jamaat was organizing Majlis in Bagamoyo in the month of Muharram. Momineen used to go from Dar-es-Salaam over the weekend for Majlis.
In early 1970’s Ithna Asheri Union Volunteers Corps under Ithna Asheri Union decided to start the tradition of organizing Majlis in the month of Muharram. A Committee was formed under I.U.V.C to organize the Majlis. The IUVC team was headed by late Murtazabhai Dewji with Aunalibhai Khalfan. Murtazabhai Jivraj, Munisbhai Bhaloo, Akberbhai Mussa Dhalla, Muslimbhai Mohamed Jivraj, Gulamhusseinbhai Allarakhia (Golo Saleh), Mohsinbhai Asgher Nathani, and Hassan Aliraza Nathani. The Volunteers who helped in the organization were; Mohammedbhai Bachoo (Shobot), Mohammedbhai Walji (Biremi), Husseinbhai Nathani (Sheni), Mehdibhai Kassamali Hasham, Mohammedbhai Panju (Kiboshta), Mohammedbhai Chandoo, Yusufbhai Mussa Dhalla, Murtazabhai Lakha, Murtazabhai Suleman, Bashirbhai Hassanali (Bashir Bapa), Asgerbhai Jaffer Hirji (Asger Jaffu), Mohammedbhai Fazal Kassam (Mukhi), Bachoobhai Sumar, Asgerbhai Mohammedhussein Tejani, Naushadbhai AbulKassim Walji, Kassamalibhai Abdallah Haji (Babu Kassu), Alirazabhai M. Bhanji (bhabha), Sajjadbhai Mohammed (Dheg), Murtazabhai Chagani, Mehboobbhai Hasham, Shabbirbhai Bhalloo, Husseinbhai Ahmed (Dr Who) and Mohamed Padamsi (Gopio). The people who encouraged IUVC to start the Bagamoyo majlis were Alhaj Amir Kanji, Alhaj Amir Walji and Alhaj Jaffer Dhirani, May Allah (SWT) grant them high status, Ameen.
Duties were allocated. Aunalibhai Khalfan was Captain of IUVC and head of Volunteers, Yusufbhai Dhalla was in charge of Finance, Munisbhai Bhalloo was in charge of transport, Muhsin Nathani was in charge of finance. Murtazabhai Jivraj was in charge of the advance party taking some volunteers two days ahead for cleaning the mosque and doing other local arrangements. All the utensils, mats and other necessary things were provided by Dar es Salaam Jamaat. Mohamedbhai Chandoo provided his truck to transport the equipment to Bagamoyo. The Majlis was attended by about five hundred people, mainly from Dar es Salaam and some from Tanga and Zanzibar. This tradition continues every year since 1973 (46 years), Alhamdulillah.
Under the IUVC, two main programs were being held annually; the Bagamoyo Majlis and Imam Hussain (AS) Day. Later on, the annual Maulidi Program (Miladun Nabii (SAWW)) was added to the IUVC annual event. IUVC were very active and supported the Dar es Salaam Jamaat in all other programs, like the Ashura Juloos, Serving Nyaz, Cleaning of the Mosque and Imambargha, Serving Sabil-e-Hussain after majlis, Security during Muharram, Safar and the holy month of Ramadhan where transport was also organized by IUVC for those people living far away from the city centre.
Renovation of Mosque & Imambargah
In the year 1986 a group of scouts led by Mohammedbhai Noormohamed Ladha walked from Dar es Salaam to Bagamoyo. They painted and cleaned the whole mosque. Since there was no Jamaat in Bagamoyo the condition of the mosque had deteriorated. In 1995 Murtazabhai Jivraj (head) along with Razahusseinbhai Janmohammed, Husseinbhai Hasham and Nasirbhai Abbas went to Bagamoyo and took the assessment of the mosque’s condition and presented a report with photographs to the president of Dar es Salaam Jamaat Alhaj Asgarbhai Bharwani. Asgarbhai immediately raised the funds and the mosque was reasonably renovated. Since the Mosque was listed under the UNESCO Archives Heritage, they did not allow renovating the front portion of the mosque. UNESCO did this for maintaining the original status of the Mosque. The material used by them was of inferior quality. During the rainy season, all the plastering was damaged so this portion had to be renovated again. Alhaj Asgerbhai Bharwani provided funds again to renovate.
Since 1990’s Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania operated Madressah for several years under the supervision of Murtazabhai Jivraj. Sheikh Hassan Ndimbo was leading the prayers and also running the Madressah which continued up until 1998 when the Madressah was closed.
In 1998 the Centenary to celebrate 100 years was organized in a grand way, almost 800 to 900 people attended the function in Bagamoyo. (Sadly we can’t locate photographs of this historical event).
Africa Federation has acquired a piece of land opposite the Mosque for the future use and for parking of vehicles, the plan is to erect a fence to protect it.
Renovation in 2007
In the year 2007, the mosque needed another renovation. Asgaralibhai Dhirani (Ashoo) approached the president of Dar es Salaam Jamaat Anverbhai Dharamsi with a proposal to undertake a more comprehensive renovation of the Mosque and requested for approval, Asgarbhai Dhirani approached our brothers who generously contributed, including himself.
After the renovation in 2007, Dar es Salaam Jamaat in the year 2008 employed Shabbirbhai Mohammedali Rattansi as caretaker of Bagamoyo mosque. Shabbirbhai volunteered to stay in the Bagamoyo mosque complex. He was staying in the small room annexe to mosque.
Shabbirbhai was looking after the mosque and also gave services to our brothers who visited the mosque. In January 2012 after short illness, Shabbir Bhai passed away and was buried in Dar es Salaam Cemetery.
Renovation in 2017
In the year 2017 another renovation of the entire Mosque was carried out with the consent of Africa Federation, the custodians of the Bagamoyo Mosque.
Once again, Asgerbhai Dhirani (Ashoo) approached our community members for donations. Who contributed generously and Asgerbhai Dhirani was also one of the donors.
Alhamdullillah, the Bagamoyo Mosque complex now has all the necessary facilities. Our brothers from Dar es Salaam and overseas visit the mosque frequently. I.U.V.C under Ithna Asheri Union have maintained the tradition of holding Majlis at Bagamoyo mosque for the last 45 years, one was organized about two weeks ago with large number of our brothers participated, the program included Juloos, Majlis, Namaz and Nyaz.
- We request our readers to remember in prayers the pioneers of the Bagamoyo Mosque and all those who contributed in one way or the other in maintaining this historical Mosque of the KSI Community and who continue to contribute for renovations, maintenance etc. Let us also remember the Marhumeen and the Volunteers who are no longer with us today with Sura-e-Fateha for their maghferat, May Allah (SWT) grant them all heavenly abode and place them in the proximity of our Aeema-e-Tahireen (AS) – Ameen.
Source: Article and photographs by Murtazabhai Jivraj (Kerbala)
- Mohamed-Salehbhai Gulamali Saleh Jagsi of Dar es Salaam
- Asgaralibhai Dhirani (Ashoo) of Budget Car Rental of Dar es Salaam
SECRETARIAT
AFRICA FEDERATION ARCHIVES SECTION
26th October 2018 (16th Safar 1440 AH)
