Brief History of the Memon Jamaat which settled in Kenya.
This explains how the forefathers moved from Pakistan to India (this was pre partition btw) and then finally to Kenya. Now one would understand why it’s hard to exactly answer the question on where I am from; India or Pakistan?
The origins do not depict the destination. From humble beginnings in the parch lands of a small dusty and desert like village of Nasserpur, Sindh, to the true north and one of the coldest countries in the world. Obviously this requires a lot of courage, valiance and adventurism. While generations have elapsed, the route has not been direct. It has come via Mandvi in Cutchh and then to East Africa, more so Mombasa, where the community has flourished and blossomed having established itself firmly. Who would have thought that there would be a Nasserpuria Memon Jamat in a western country (this was written by memons living in Canada) where the sun never sets for months in certain areas. No one, but where Allah (s.w.t) wills, no one can stop it. This was to be and Alhamdulillah it is.
It all started around the year 834 AH (1460) when some elders of the Lohana Community residing around Thatta in Sindh accepted Islam at the hands of Peer Yusufdin Saheb. Once these influential people accepted Islam many families followed their footsteps and came to be known as “Momin” which subsequently changed to “Memon.” The new converts spread to the surrounding settlements such as Nasserpur, Banoth Wandya etc. Amongst those who settled in Nasserpur were Nathoo and Panjoo who then migrated to Mandvi in Cutchh and came to be known as Sindhi Memons with the surname of Nasserpuri. The families grew into a small community. Most were business people with some having talent as traditional healers. Once properly settled in Cutchh, the Nasserpuri Sindhi Memons acquired properties and built mosques. They expanded their business and started exporting their merchandise, which included weaving, and handloom products to East Africa. This was done by using dhows, which sailed with the help of the monsoon winds. Between 1832 and 1845 the first families settled in Zanzibar and later accidentally reached the town of Mombasa, which has now become the hub of all Nasserpuria Memon activity. Slowly most Nasserpurians moved to Mombasa and firmly established themselves mainly as business people. Activities were organized and sacrifices in the form of cash and kind (which included properties) were made to safeguard the religion and communal heritage. On 15th October 1926 the Jamat in Mombasa became formalized with a constitution. There has been no looking back since then and one development has followed another with mosques, schools, clinics, home for the widows etc being built and continues to prosper even to this day. Some members have ventured and explored to other parts of the world following the footsteps of their forefathers while for others political circumstances have led them to settle in countries such as UK, Holland, USA, Australia and Canada.
Sourced from: http://www.nmjcanada.com/history.htm
