This talk is part of the Berlin Anthropology Seminars, which are co-organized by Claudia Liebelt (Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology), Kai Kresse (Leibniz Zentrum Moderner Orient)and Paola Ivanov (Ethnologisches Museum Berlin). It intends to shape and cultivate an inclusive platform and open regular meeting point for exchange and discussion on current research by Berlin-based anthropologists. Please spread the word among colleagues, junior or senior, who may be interested. 
For further questions contact Carolin Gantz Vargas, c.gantz.vargas@fu-berlin.de

The events will take place in a hybrid format.

WebEx-meeting link: https://fu-berlin.webex.com/fu-berlin/j.php?MTID=me0e028dc397165a56ffbb5baf40081cc

(meeting ID: 2730 192 5532; meeting password: BAS_winter_2024)

This talk explores how Zambian Indian (Gujarati) Muslims navigate the interplay between tradition, language, and identity within the maktab system, where language choices between Urdu and English are connected to their associations  with heritage, notions of modernity, and the construction of new identities. The introduction of English-language curricula and the increasing preference for English in the maktab signals a shift from established linguistic norms. As a site where children’s multifaceted identities are forged, this transition to English not only reshapes their linguistic and religious experiences but also redefines their sense of belonging within both local and global Muslim communities. By analysing the perspectives of students, parents, and staff, I  highlight the social values shaping language choices and the broader implications of transitioning from Urdu and Gujarati to English in the makātib (pl) of Lusaka.