The proceedings book of the conference on the “History and Legacy of Muslims in the Caribbean” held in Georgetown, in September 2023, contains sixteen research papers on specialized topics grouped in three parts, titled “Historical Legacy and Migration”; “Cultural and Economic Issues”; “Civil Movements”. The conference was the very first scholarly event to be organized by the OIC and IRCICA in the Caribbean region. It helped to strengthen awareness and connections between the Muslim communities of the two OIC Member States in the region – Guyana and Suriname, as well as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and the cultural audiences of other OIC Member States across continents. Opened by the President of Guyana H.E. Mohamed Irfaan Ali with a comprehensive Feature Address, the event also reinforced international linkages among researchers who are working on the history, cultural heritage and social developments of Muslim communities of the Caribbean region. It provided an appraisal of the sources and publications, and highlighted diverse aspects of the subject defined according to the communities of different geographical and historical backgrounds, religious and cultural affiliations. The conference was implemented with the collaboration of the University of Guyana and brought together specialists from universities, cultural and media organizations in different countries: Barbados, Canada, Columbia, Guyana, Haiti, Malaysia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the U.S.A. The articles in the book reflect the evolving focuses in this research field concerning the historical formation processes and contemporary developments of Afro-Muslim and Indo-Muslim communities of the region; their inter-communal and international relationships, economic, demographic and educational trends and future prospects; artistic and literary traditions; the activities of Muslims’ organizations, mosques and cultural institutions in history and at present, and other relevant facts and developments.
The book will widen the horizons of researchers and contribute to general public knowledge about the Muslim communities of the Caribbean.
