Islamic Associations and the Social Development of the Muslim Community in Anglophone Cameroon - A Historical Analysis

The Cameroon is both a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, with Islam and Christianity being the dominant religious.One of the ways used by the Muslim community in Anglophone Cameroon to help spread and develop their religion was through the creation and activities of Islamic Associations beginning from the late 1980s and early 1990s.Islamic Associations played a very important role in the growth and development of the Islamic religion and its infrastructures in Anglophone Cameroon.Examining the contributions of Islamic Associations in socio-religious development specifically in religions, health, education, economy and youth development is a way of showing connections between the economy, religion and social responsibility activities of these Islamic religious associations (A.Kurshid, 1977: pp.2-57).It had been observed that even through the majority of Muslim Associations were founded mainly to fulfill the parallel socio-economic activities.In addition, many Muslim Associations considered welfare programs an important part of their religious strategy.Hence, earlier and in recent decades, these associations have made attempts to increase in strength and have transformed their objectives through welfare services.This was and is still the case of Islamic Associations in Anglophone Cameroon (Interview with Alhaji Swaibou Baba Mallam, 3 rd June 2003).Significant contributions of Islamic Associations in Anglophone Cameroon such as intellectuals and economic empowerment, rehabilitation of children and orphans, renovating and construction of Islamic sites and schools, the encouragement of young girls to embrace education and proper and adequate health care were remarkable in the development of the region (A.B.Lemu and F. Heeren, 1978: pp.2-37).This paper therefore examines the role of Islamic Religious Associations in enhancing the spread, growth and development of Islam, as well as the socio-religious and economic improvement of the Muslim community in Anglophone Cameroon.Two of the most prominent Islamic or Muslim