MATRILINY, ISLAM AND GENDER IN NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE 1 by LIAZZAT J.K. BONATE (Eduardo Mondlane University and University of Cape Town) ABSTRACT Using gender as the major line of difference, the paper examines the diversity within Islam in northern Mozambique, in which, despite strong historical ties to the Swahili world and waves of Islamic expansion, as well as attempts to establish and police an Islamic ‘orthodoxy’, matriliny continues to be one of the main cul- tural features. Concentrating on two coastal regions, Mozambique Island and Angoche, and on three urban zones of the modern provincial capital, Nampula City, the paper addresses the reasons for the endurance of matriliny, through his- torical processes that brought about different currents of Islam, and discusses the ways in which the colonial and post-colonial state, while attempting to control the often conflicting Islamic and African ‘traditional’ authorities, have contributed to the perpetuation of this conflict as well as to the endurance of matriliny. Introduction Northern Mozambican Muslims represent a paradox with respect to Islam and gender. While Muslim culture here was historically linked to the Swahili world, matriliny continues to be one of its main features. This paper addresses the persistence of matriliny through historical processes that brought about different currents of Islam, and discusses the ways in which the colonial and post-colonial state, while attempting to control the often conflicting Islamic and African ‘traditional’ authorities, have contributed to the perpetuation of this conflict as well as to the endurance of matriliny. Based on fieldwork in Angoche and Mozambique Island, and in three sub-locations of Nampula City, namely Namicopo- Nametequiliua, Carrupeia and Muhalla, the paper focuses on African Sunni Muslims. 2 This paper shows that in a relatively small area, like northern Mozambique, Islam is a complex discursive field with different currents © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2006 Journal of Religion in Africa, 36.2 Also available on line – www.brill.nl JRA 36,2_f3_139-166 3/13/06 6:20 PM Page 139