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IRCICA PUBLICATIONSProceedings of the International SymposiumISLAMIC CIVILISATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICAJohannesburg, South Africa, 1-3 September 2006,Editors: Mahomed Haroon, Suleman Essop Dangor, IRCICA, Istanbul, 2009IRCICA has the pleasure to publish this first book relatingto Islamic Civilisation in Southern Africa resulting fromcollaboration with institutions, universities and specialistsof the region. The symposium on “Islamic Civilisation inSouthern Africa” was held in Johannesburg, Republic ofSouth Africa, on 31 August-3 September 2006. It was coorganisedby IRCICA, Awqaf Foundation of South Africa(Awqaf SA) and the University of Johannesburg. Thesymposium was a landmark event, first to be co-organisedby the OIC and IRCICA in the region. From the point ofview of IRCICA; the symposium came in the context ofits research programs on the general history of Islamiccivilisation on one hand, and its regional cultural studies onthe other. It was IRCICA’s third congress dealing with thehistory of Islamic civilisation in Africa, following the firsttwo which were devoted to West Africa (Dakar, 1996) andEastern Africa (Kampala, 2003) respectively.IRCICA PubilicationsThe Johannesburg congress aimed, among others, to increaseknowledge on the history and heritage of Islam in the OICMember States and their neighbours in the region; make thereligious and cultural heritage of Southern African Muslimsbetter understood by themselves and other communities;promote dialogue amongst Muslim peoples in the region andwith peoples of other faiths and cultures. The congress drewlarge academic and public interest and wide participation.The book contains the opening addresses of OIC Secretary Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, IRCICA Director General Dr. HalitEren, Dr. Essop Goolam Pahad, Minister at the Presidency of South Africa, Mr. Ebrahim Rasool, Premier. These are followedby the keynote article by Dr. Mahomed Haroon, titled “Southern African Muslim Communities in Context and Scholarship”.Then come six articles under the section title Historical Background, five articles under Challenge of Racism and Responsein Politics, seven articles under Spiritual Culture and Learning, and seven articles under Miscellany. The papers have beenedited and prepared for publication by Mahomed Haroon and Suleman Essop Dangor, specialists of Islamic history andculture in Southern Africa. The high quality and variety of the articles has allowed comprehensive coverage of the theme asreflected by the above section titles.22 Newsletter September -December 2009, No: 80