The moral economy of Islamic philanthropy in Cape Town: the case of Mustadafin Foundation and the African Muslims Agency

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dc.contributor.advisorAlhourani, Ala
dc.contributor.advisorPorcu, Elisabetta
dc.contributor.authorAsemota, Osarumwense
dc.date.accessioned2025-11-07T08:15:52Z
dc.date.available2025-11-07T08:15:52Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.updated2025-11-07T08:09:58Z
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation explores two Muslim philanthropy organisations in Cape Town, the Mustadafin Foundation and the Africa Muslims Agency (AMA). The aim of the thesis is twofold: one is to unpack the plurality of ethics that motivate their philanthropy, and the second is to explore the ways and extent to which they constitute a moral economy of donation and distribution. Established in 1986, the Mustadafin Foundation is a homegrown South African organisation with a legacy of community building and political activism driven by an Islamic social justice ethos. On the other hand, AMA was founded in 1981 as a transnational humanitarian organisation operating across Africa and Asia. Both organisations play a critical role in township development by providing food, water, education (secular and religious), disaster relief, and other essential services. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and theoretical analysis, this study illuminates the vast tapestry of engagement woven by faith, ethics of care, and community building in a post- apartheid dispensation. It argues that the motivations for giving are diverse, encompassing religious obligation, social solidarity, and community welfare. Anchored in Alhourani's (2024) conception of Islamic giving as constitutive of moral economy and Mona Atia's (2013) concept of pious neoliberalism, the dissertation examines the strategic objectives of Islamic philanthropy and its contributions to the social and economic growth of township communities in Cape Town. This dissertation contributes to the nascent field of Islamic philanthropy studies in Cape Town by providing a comparative account between local and transnational Muslim philanthropic organisations. The thesis argues that a plurality of ethics inspires both organisations and that they constitute a moral economy. It offers critical insights into its role in fostering social cohesion, social solidarity, conviviality, and Islamisation.
dc.identifier.apacitationAsemota, O. (2025). <i>The moral economy of Islamic philanthropy in Cape Town: the case of Mustadafin Foundation and the African Muslims Agency</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Religious Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42142en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationAsemota, Osarumwense. <i>"The moral economy of Islamic philanthropy in Cape Town: the case of Mustadafin Foundation and the African Muslims Agency."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Religious Studies, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42142en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAsemota, O. 2025. The moral economy of Islamic philanthropy in Cape Town: the case of Mustadafin Foundation and the African Muslims Agency. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Religious Studies. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42142en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Asemota, Osarumwense AB - This dissertation explores two Muslim philanthropy organisations in Cape Town, the Mustadafin Foundation and the Africa Muslims Agency (AMA). The aim of the thesis is twofold: one is to unpack the plurality of ethics that motivate their philanthropy, and the second is to explore the ways and extent to which they constitute a moral economy of donation and distribution. Established in 1986, the Mustadafin Foundation is a homegrown South African organisation with a legacy of community building and political activism driven by an Islamic social justice ethos. On the other hand, AMA was founded in 1981 as a transnational humanitarian organisation operating across Africa and Asia. Both organisations play a critical role in township development by providing food, water, education (secular and religious), disaster relief, and other essential services. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and theoretical analysis, this study illuminates the vast tapestry of engagement woven by faith, ethics of care, and community building in a post- apartheid dispensation. It argues that the motivations for giving are diverse, encompassing religious obligation, social solidarity, and community welfare. Anchored in Alhourani's (2024) conception of Islamic giving as constitutive of moral economy and Mona Atia's (2013) concept of pious neoliberalism, the dissertation examines the strategic objectives of Islamic philanthropy and its contributions to the social and economic growth of township communities in Cape Town. This dissertation contributes to the nascent field of Islamic philanthropy studies in Cape Town by providing a comparative account between local and transnational Muslim philanthropic organisations. The thesis argues that a plurality of ethics inspires both organisations and that they constitute a moral economy. It offers critical insights into its role in fostering social cohesion, social solidarity, conviviality, and Islamisation. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Islamic Philanthropy KW - Cape Town KW - Muslims Agency LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - The moral economy of Islamic philanthropy in Cape Town: the case of Mustadafin Foundation and the African Muslims Agency TI - The moral economy of Islamic philanthropy in Cape Town: the case of Mustadafin Foundation and the African Muslims Agency UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42142 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/42142
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationAsemota O. The moral economy of Islamic philanthropy in Cape Town: the case of Mustadafin Foundation and the African Muslims Agency. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Religious Studies, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42142en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Religious Studies
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectIslamic Philanthropy
dc.subjectCape Town
dc.subjectMuslims Agency
dc.titleThe moral economy of Islamic philanthropy in Cape Town: the case of Mustadafin Foundation and the African Muslims Agency
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
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