Islam in Mayotte

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

85,000 of the total 90,000 inhabitants of the island of Mayotte are Comorians who are 99.9% Shafiite Muslims. The Comorians are a blend of settlers from the past: Iranian traders, mainland Africans, Arabs and Malagasy. Comorian communities can also be found in other parts of the Comoros chain as well as in Madagascar.

Although young people wear Western style clothing, traditional clothing is still common among the adults. While in town, a Comorian man will typically wear a white cotton garment and a knee-length shirt, sometimes with a white jacket and white skull cap. Out of town, a long cloth sarong (colorful skirt) is worn. Most women wear long, colorful cotton dresses with bright shawls as face coverings. Others prefer wearing black robes that cover their heads. Polygamy is an acceptable practice among the Comorians. Traditionally, the Comorians have been very resistant to any kind of religious change. [1]