First Ever Symposium about Black Muslims in Canada Held in Toronto

This conference was organized by the Black Muslim Initiative (BMI) in partnership with the Islamic Institute of Toronto (IIT) and the Tessellate Institute. BMI is a grassroots project that aims to tackle issues at the intersection of Black and Muslim life. The conference has also been made possible with the support of the Olive Tree Foundation, the University of Toronto's Emmanuel College, and the Canadian Association of Muslim Women in Law.

This conference looked at the lived experiences of Black Muslims in Canada (through academic and non-academic research). By bringing together participants through this conference, a community of scholars is emerging that can enhance partnerships, collaboration, and networks to the benefit of Black Muslim communities in Canada.

This conference was intended to bring together academics, researchers, policymakers, spiritual leaders and community members to engage in a full-day discussion on a broad set of themes relating to Black Muslims in Canada. Themes include (but are not limited to) history, identity, health, law, community-based organizing, religion, and politics.

Topics explored were:

Black Muslim Narratives and the Canadian experience

Islamic Scholarship and the North American Context

The Missing Demographic: The impact on policy and legislation

Muslim Women in Leadership: Contributions of Black Muslim Women

You can view videos of these sessions on Facebook here

Keynote speakers included Minister for Citizenship and Immigration Ahmed Hussen and Member of Provincial Parliament Faisal Hassan.

Learn about the other speakers below

• Zakaria Abdulle Zakaria Abdulle
• Zahra Grant Zahra Grant
• Imam Yasin Dwyer Imam Yasin Dwyer
• Timaj Garad Timaj Garad
• Imam Abdur Rashid Taylor Imam Abdur Rashid Taylor
• Laïty Ndiaye Laïty Ndiaye
• Jaafar Dirie Jaafar Dirie
• Abdalla Idris Ali Abdalla Idris Ali
• Hodan Ahmed Mohamed Hodan Ahmed Mohamed
• Ginella Massa Ginella Massa
• Fatema Dada Fatema Dada
• Faisal Hassan Faisal Hassan
• Dahabo Omer Dahabo Omer
• Boonaa Mohammed Boonaa Mohammed
• Fatimah Jackson-Best Fatimah Jackson-Best
• Aisha Farah aka Aisha the Poet Aisha Farah aka Aisha the Poet
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