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Islam in Vanuatu

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Vanuatu is a Christian majority country, with adherents of Islam being a minority. Due to the secular nature of Vanuatu's constitution, Muslims are free to proselytize and build places of worship in the country. There are roughly 1,000 Muslims in the country according to online estimates from 2016.{{Cite news | url = http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2005/s1313695.htm | title = Vanuatu - Island Dress | date = 2005-02-15 | access-date = 2007-05-26 | work = Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}{{Cite web |last=Garae |first=Len |date=2016-10-27 |title=Over 1,000 Muslims |url=https://www.dailypost.vu/news/over-1-000-muslims/article_cc6362f5-3c76-5d32-8cbb-6f89edb7f3e6.html |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Vanuatu Daily Post |language=en}}

History

One of the earliest known Muslims in Vanuatu was Hussein Nabanga, who converted in 1978. Hussein Nabanga was a member of the Mele people and other Mele people (who originated from the tiny island of Imere Tenuku) were the earliest to follow.{{Cite web|date=2016|title=Hussein Nabanga, Vanuatu's First Muslim|url=https://www.yts.vu/hussein-nabanga-vanuatu-first-muslim-testimony/|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-09-08|archive-date=2021-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908031045/https://www.yts.vu/hussein-nabanga-vanuatu-first-muslim-testimony/}} Now there are Muslims throughout many other islands in Vanuatu. Currently there is a registered Islamic society looking after religious matters; Muhammad Sadiq Sambo from Mele Village is the current president of the society.{{CN|date=August 2020}} The first mosque in Vanuatu was established in 1992, in Mele Village in the outskirts of Port Vila.{{CN|date=August 2020}} There is also another mosque on the island of Tanna in the Middle Bush area.{{CN|date=August 2020}} There is a prayer place{{clarify|date=October 2013}} on the island of Erromango near Dillons Bay. Most Vanuatuan Muslims are Sunnis.

In 2007, it was reported that there were about 200 converts in the country, and mosques are springing up in the outer islands of the archipelago.{{Cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/heeding-the-call-to-prayer-in-a-region-that-reveres-the-pig/2007/09/07/1188783496490.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1| title = Heeding the call to prayer in a region that reveres the pig | date = 8 September 2007| access-date = 2 February 2017 | work = Sydney Morning Herald}} Chiefs are often the target of proselytising Muslims, on the often correct assumption that if they convert then their extended families, clans and other islanders are likely to follow suit.

Mosque

The first mosque in Vanuatu was founded in 1992 in the village of Mele, outside the country's capital, Port Vila. There is also another mosque on Tanna Island, and a prayer hall on Erromango. Children of Vanuatu Muslims who can afford it go to Fiji to receive religious education.

See Also

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References

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External links

  • [http://atheism.about.com/library/irf/irf04/blirf_vanuatu.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2004] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206020842/http://atheism.about.com/library/irf/irf04/blirf_vanuatu.htm |date=2010-12-06 }}
  • Marc Tabani, « L’islam des musulmans de Tanna (Vanuatu) », L’Homme, 233 | 2020. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/lhomme/36746 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/lhomme.36746

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Vanuatu

Vanuatu

Category:Religion in Vanuatu

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