The central Tunisian city of Kairouan is well known as a centre of Islamic learning – it’s often described as one of the most important cities for Sunni Muslims after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Religious scholars come from around the world to learn and memorize from Islam’s holy book, the Koran.

Among these are many students from Africa. They come to Kairouan to get a certificate of achievement that will allow them to enter a Saudi Arabian university or that would allow them to establish religious institutes in their own countries.

The central Tunisian city of Kairouan is well known as a centre of Islamic learning – it’s often described as one of the most important cities for Sunni Muslims after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Religious scholars come from around the world to learn and memorize from Islam’s holy book, the Koran.

Among these are many students from Africa. They come to Kairouan to get a certificate of achievement that will allow them to enter a Saudi Arabian university or that would allow them to establish religious institutes in their own countries.

Muslim villages in Africa have always sent their sons to Kairouan to learn Arabic and to learn the Koran. While there they live in dormitories.

One of these is Suleiman, 19, from Gambia. He came to Kairouan on the advice of a friend of his father because certificates from the institutions here are recognized in Saudi Arabia; he eventually wants to study there.

Ateek Bikinga, also 19, is originally from Burkina Faso and he’s travelled thousands of kilometers for the chance to memorize the Koran in Kairouan. His formal education finished very early back home and this is his way of continuing his studies – he should be getting his certificate very soon, at the end of Ramadan this coming week.

Legal difficulties for students

Despite their enthusiasm, many African students face administrative and legal difficulties.

Mohamed Jalo, another African student from Burkina Faso, talks about his expired residency permit. But he says nothing will stop him from continuing his studies and he plans to stay here until he is finished – he too wants to go to university in Saudi Arabia.

“We do not have residency permits so we cannot leave Kairouan,” Jalo explains. “The residency issues are a major obstacle for many Africans planning to come here.”

To learn Arabic and memorize the Koran, the African students, usually stay in Kairouan for several years with religious associations providing food and accommodation. The students are also subject to associations’ monitoring and they coordinate this with local security forces. Students are banned from traveling outside Kairouan and the ban is only lifted when they finish memorizing the Koran.

Kairouan has been a destination for religious scholars for centuries. But over the past few decades its academic role and influence have diminished.

Tayeb Ghazi, the imam of Kairouan’s most important mosque, the Uqba ibn Nafi mosque, says that the city was targeted by the former regime, which was more secular, in order to reduce its importance and role. Nonetheless, Ghazi says, the city is still a destination of choice for African students. Their success here adds to Kairouan’s reputation, the cleric concludes.