Zohran Mamdani is a Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City, representing a progressive platform. His surname, Mamdani, is tied to a legacy that includes his father, Mahmood Mamdani, an academic known for his work on postcolonial Uganda. The Mamdani lineage originates from the Khoja community, a historically significant South Asian Muslim merchant caste that contributed to economic growth across the Indian Ocean region. Over the years, the Khoja evolved religiously, with most identifying as Ismaili Muslims, yet the Mamdani family aligns with the Twelver community, reflecting a distinctive belief in their Imam's eventual return.
The Mamdani surname tells a story of migration, resilience and community-building that spans centuries and continents.
Mamdanis in Uganda belong to the Khoja community, a South Asian Muslim merchant caste, that shaped economic development across the western Indian Ocean for centuries.
The Khoja were categorized by the British in the early 19th century as 'Hindoo Mussalman' because their traditions spanned both religions.
The majority of Khoja today are Ismaili, a branch of Shiite Islam that follows the Aga Khan as their living imam.
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