RESEARCH ON MUSLIM MEDIA CENTRES

There are several media centers in Nairobi. These centers mainly deal with Islamic
lecturers and religious books.

EASTLEIGH

Eastleigh is the biggest center for Islamic media. It hosts several recording studios for
Islamic lecturers and Islamic books.. Another big center for Islamic media is the Jamia
mosque.

JAMIA MOSQUE

This is one of the biggest Islamic media center in Nairobi. It has a library and audio
visual library. I talked to Ahmed Amir an attendant at the Audio visual library and had this
to say:-“We lend lecture tapes by charging Kshs 300 once to be tapes. We also sell
Cds and Dvds on Islamic lectures at Kshs 100.Prominent Muslim to scholars include
local’s Juma Amir and Sh.Uthman Maalim. foreign lecturers include Zakir Naik and
Khalid Yassin.”

Ahmed says business is good during the holy month of Ramadhan but the regrets
muslim youth ‘don’t buy much compared to old people.This he says is because they
are too much occupied in the internet.’However,one major challenge they face it most
lecturers by foreign scholars are not readily available on request.”Some people might
come and ask for certain Sheikh lecturers but we normally don’t have. ”Mr.Ahmed says
they plan to expand the center in future to accommodate more Islamic materials.

ABUBAKAR IDD

Abubakar Idd has been selling Islamic Cds and Dvds outside Jamia mosque for the
last 10 years.He says the most popular Sheikhs are Noordin Kishki and Khalid
Yassin.He also sells popular Qasidas (Annashit) from Indonesia and Islamic
documentaries like ‘the message ’ and ‘the lion of the desert’.Sh.Ahmed Deedat is the
most popular Sheikh in ‘Comparative religion ’ debate then Sh.Mayunga.Other popular
Sheikhs are Bachu,Kipozeo,Bilal Philips and Mohammed Uthman. Mr.Idd says he gets
his cassettes from Eastleigh.One great achievement on these cassettes is that several
Christians have become Muslims after watching them. Main problem he faces is
finance.He lacks money to expand his business. Islamic banks don’t give such loans.

MOHAMMED MAHMOUD

Mohammed is a shia brother who started selling books and cassettes in 1992 and is
now selling outside Jamia mosque. He sells both cds and religious books. He gets
cds from people in Mombasa he gets the books from Individual. she says the
bookshops don’t really affect him because his books are cheap. His main problem is
during rain and dust as his books becomes spoilt.

EASTLEIGH

Hamza Islamic studio is the biggest studio in Eastleigh. They produce cds and dvds on
Islamic lecturers. Mohammed Ali is the administrator. He says the main objective of the
studio is to do da’awah and then business. He started the business in 1980 and the
cassettes are in Somali, English and Swahili language. He sells them at wholesale price
of Kshs 25/- per copy which are then sold at Kshs 100.He says the business is high
during the holy month of Ramadhan.He says the most popular Sheikh for now is Noordin
Kishki.He communicates directly with his people to and is very good in swahili…….Some of
the cassettes found there are ‘The balance sheet’ by Captain Yahya,’Umauti’ by Uthman
Maalim,’Miujiza child’ by Sh.Sharif and the big decate by Sh.Deedat.

MOHAMMED SULEIMAN

Mohammed Suleiman is 32 years old.he started selling Islamic cds in 2006.He sells them
outside Garissa lodge in Eastleigh.He said he started doing this job after being a
butcher.This business has good profit with no big loseHe buys his cassettes from the
Hamza Maktaba upstairs.Sheikh Noordin is very popular among his customers because
of his style of speaking with good Swahili.Sh.Uthman Maalim from Zanzibar is also a
popular among his customers because he mainly talk abot Islamic historySh.Baharo is
famous for his……….. topics.Foreign preacher include Sh.Khalid Yassin.

Abdillahi Ali is 27 years old.He also sells cassettes outside Garissa lodge.He started
this job in 2007.Popular Sheikhs among his customers are Somalis including
ShMustapha Haji Ismah,Osman Maalim and Dr ule from Tanzania.Ahmed Deedat is also
famous in comparative religion.
ISLAMIC BOOKSHOPS

Adam Mohammed works at Nur-ul-Islam bookshop in Eastleigh.His books are most in

RAbic.This is because most people here are Somalis who know Arabic ..However there
are books in English and Swahili.He sells the Holy Quran at Ksh 600 a copy and
other various books at around Kshs 300.

IMAM BUKHARI

This library is situated on 6th street Eastleigh.It also has books mainly in Arabic.They
buy the books from Kenya especially in Jamia mosque. It is one of the major libraries
in Eastleigh.Many people buy the books especially during the month of Ramadhan.

Mohammed Ali also works in another bookshop along 9th street.His books ranges
between Kshs 1000 and Kshs 650.His main books are in English .But majority of the
people prefer to buy books in Somali and English language so as to teach themselves
English.These books cost Kshs 50.There are also other books in Arabic.

Mr Sheriff is an attendant at the 6th street mosque library.He lends out vedio tapes to
members.Most tapes are Quran and Lecturers in Somali language.He lends them at Kshs
60 each.He also produces them thee at the library.

AL-ILMU BOOKSHOP

This bookshop is also found a long 6th street in Eastleigh.Main books are Somali
language.He also sells the Hoy Quran and other Islamic Dvds adds up by selling
Kanzus.

PUMWANI MAJENGO

Therte are two media centers in Pumwani.One is that of Mr Bashkaas.He has been
selling Islamic cds here for the last 10 years.He promotes Tariga teachings and is big
critic wahabbism.Therefore most of his cassettes challenge Wahhabism.He gets them
mainly from Mombasa.His main problem is finance.He says he does not get enough
support from fellow muslims especially funds to his business.However he travels a lot in
major towns to sell cds and stop the spred of Wahabbis.Some towns he has visites
are Kericho,Nakuru,Embu and Nyeri.
Hamza Salim is another trader in Pumwani,he sells Islamic cds especially during the
month of Ramadhan .In oter days he sells secular music .He says there is a big
problem in Pumwani between Sunnis and Wahhabis.He also says lack of funds has
stopped him from expanding his business.His shop is along the busy Digo road where
both muslims and non Muslims like buying cassettes on comparative religion.

ALRUM BOOKSHOP

Probably this is the biggest Islamic bookshop in Nairobi.It is situated at Jamia Mall.It has
a variety of books mainly from abroad…Holy Quran,,Hadith,Seerat,Figh and Aqaid, Arabic
language books are also found there.However the cost of books is quite high,may be
preventing many readers in accessing them.Mr Habil says that business is not bad
though slow.He says Muslims are not very good readers and they lack the reading
muslims culture and therefore lack interest in buying Islamic books.

TAYEBJEE BOOK CENTER

This is an old bookshop of Islamic books owned by Mr Shabbir, an Ismailia.It has

books in all areas of blames teachings both in English and Swahili language. They get
most books from Dubai and Saudi Arabia.Their cost are favorable and affordable and
above.Mr Shabbir who sells clothes and school which make it at busy shop.

RAHMA BOOKSHOP

This is another major bookshop situated in Jamia mosque .Its mainly filled.with
Islamic tapes from various scholars. The owner ,Mr Aslam is a respected Quran
translator who formerly worked for the Islamic foundation.

CONCLUSION

It is a fact that the Islamic media is expanding rapidly. Muslims are more interested in
audio visual cassettes as compared to books. This means there is need to create more
interest in reading culture among Muslims. However, the main problem facing a number
of vendors is finance to expand their business. There is no bank willing to support them
Also there is a proper arrangement to do their work. Most of them do it in open
spaces which becomes difficult especially during rainy seasons. Production of pure quality
materials is also a problem. They lack proper equipment for production. Also they face
big challenging in marketing their work. Although their is good profit in the business, it is
being hindered by poor marketing strategy mainly due to ignorance.

Otherwise the future is bright if support is put to the traders most of whom are doing
for da’awah and also business.

However the spread of Wahabbism is really influencing the teachings of Islam in Kenya. Most
speakers are wahabbis whose main centre is Jamia Mosque.They give lectures according to
their sect which is mainly opposed by Sunni MuslimsTheir main topics are Tauhid, History of
islam and Bid’. They are also against the teaching of shia Ahlulbait teachings which sometimes
they mention in their lectures which are then produced in CDs.

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