Muharram in Africa: Northern Africa
Islam entered Africa by the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) initial believers migration to Abyssinia (today Ethiopia) and gradually it had been outspreaded through all the continent via trades and business. Shia majority are resident in the eastern Africa. Shias ruled on northern Africa from the forth to sixth century AH. Later, Saladin Ayoubi overthrow them. One obvious thing is that for many centuries Iranians constructed the most beautiful religious monuments in countries such as Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Islam in northern Africa
Algeria
The Algerian people have a very strong interest in the Holy Prophet's (PBUH) family and Ahlulbayt (houshold), and especially that of Hazrat Ali (A.S); and that is why the name of most sons in Algeria is “Sayyid Ali”. They know themselves dependent to Ahlulbayt more than every nation in Africa. Inasmuch as Ashura is a holiday in this country.
In most of the streets and quraters in Algeria, you can find the places like Husseiniyah (place for mourning). In other words, you cannot find anyone virtuous without deep believe and love to the Ahlulbayt. Algerian religious speakers pay a great attention to the Salawat (peacing upon Holy Prophet).
Tunisia
In the year 909 A.D, “Fatemiyoun” came to power in Tunisia and Shia Islam became dominant. But Shiism was going to be faded duing the time due to various invades and wars. Today the religious majority is Sunnism in this country. So, unfortunately the Muharram decade is not very popular among the people of Tunisia. By the way, Tunisia government’s efforts toward the modernization and westernization remarkably decrease the grace of religious values especially Muharram in people; Inasmuch as Ashura Holiday is eliminated in the Tunisian calendar.
Egypt
Egyptian history has seen the various changes in its religious culture. Once, Fatemiouns conquered the power and Shiism became outspreaded. Hereupon, the following special events became very evident in Egyptian history: Muharram, Celebration of the Prophet Hood of Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Shaban Eid, The Holy Household (A.S) birthdays, Eid al-Ghadir and Iranian Norouz Festival. After Fatemiouns’ collapse, only Imam Hussein’s birthday has been commemorated through the years until today.
Today, Egyptian Shias come together in “Ra’s al-Hussein” to mourn for the “King of History’s Martyrs”, but “Hay al-Hussein” becomes the volcano of mourning and devotion to Imam Hussein.
Source (Farsi): "Global mourning for Imam Hussein (A.S)" by Safieh Rezaei
Translated into English: M. R. Sameti
Other Links:
How I Came to Islam (Part 1)
How I Came to Islam (Part 2)
How I Came to Islam (Part 3)
Islam could Attract Lauren Booth too
Eduardo Agnelli, The Martyr of his Belief
