Emerging “Indigenous” Islam in Colombia: Conversions, Identity, and Community Challenges

Over the past few decades, conversions to Islam in Colombia have increased significantly, with Latin American “indigenous” Muslims (converts or direct descendants of converts) now forming the majority in most mosques, congregations and Islamic centers. These conversions arise from various motivations, including spiritual exploration, intellectual curiosity, and relational or emotional factors, often intertwined. A distinction can be drawn between “collective conversions,” where dozens of individuals in a given area embrace Islam together, and “individual conversions,” which are more dispersed and numerous. This article goes beyond examining the motivations and conditions of these conversions to explore the emergence of an “indigenous Islam” in Colombia and the dynamics surrounding the development and assertion of local Muslim communities, primarily composed of converts. Key challenges for these communities include negotiating knowledge and legitimacy within mixed groups of migrants and “indigenous” Muslims, constructing a plural identity that blends local (Latin American) social and cultural elements with Islamic references, including a sense of belonging to the universal Ummah, and contextualizing religious norms and discourses in light of the local social realities. Furthermore, this study delves into the critical issue of sustaining these small, often fragile communities over time. Drawing on fieldwork and qualitative analysis, this paper aims to provide insights into how Islam is being understood, lived, and rooted in a predominantly Catholic and secular Colombian society, contributing to broader discussions on religion, identity, and social change in Latin America.