The Muslim Association of Malawi was formed in March 1957 as the Nyasaland Muslim Association — later known as the Central Body of Muslim Education (CBME). Its primary purpose was to ensure Muslim children could access secular education that Christian-run schools were denying them. In 1968, the name was changed to the Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM). Since its formal elections began, eight leaders have steered the organisation:
1. Sheikh Rajabu Karim (Abdul Karim) — 1958 to 1963
From Chiradzulu, Sheikh Rajabu Karim was the first elected Chairman of the Association, leading it through its formative years when the core mission was establishing Islamic schools to educate Muslim children. He was eventually removed from office following allegations of financial misconduct.
2. Sheikh Lali Lubani — 1963 to 1966
From Blantyre, Sheikh Lali Lubani took over leadership and served for three years before voluntarily stepping aside to make way for new leadership and fresh energy in the organisation.
3. Mr Mussa Gama — 1966 to 1972
From Zomba, Mr Mussa Gama led MAM for six years before resigning to pursue a political career after being appointed as a Member of Parliament for his constituency.
4. Sheikh Twaibu Hussein Mwarabu — 1972 to 1994
From Balaka, Sheikh Twaibu Hussein Mwarabu is MAM's longest-serving Chairman, leading the organisation for 22 years until his death in 1994. His reign transformed MAM from a modest education coordination body into a comprehensive Islamic development organisation.
His major achievements include: establishing the Youth Committee in 1977; hosting the 3rd Southern Africa Islamic Youth Conference in Malawi in 1981; acquiring the Quran House plot (MAM's head office) in Blantyre in 1979; and using Saudi Arabian funding to establish the Blantyre Islamic Mission (BIM), Bilali Clinic in Chiradzulu, Chiwaula Islamic Centre in Mangochi, and Ntaja Community Day Secondary School. He also facilitated the arrival of Sheikh Saad Attalib in April 1982, who greatly enhanced mosque construction and propagation work across Malawi until 1988.
5. Alhaj John Alid Likonde — Acting Chairman, 1994 to 1997
From Mangochi, Alhaj Likonde served as Acting Chairman following the death of Sheikh Mwarabu. He chose not to stand in subsequent elections and later formed his own organisation, the Qadriya Muslim Association of Malawi (QMAM).
6. Sheikh Omar Asibu Wochi — 1997 to 2005
From Mangochi, Sheikh Omar Wochi served two terms as Chairman before choosing not to stand for re-election. His tenure saw MAM consolidate its district-level structures across Malawi.
7. Alhaj Yusuf Kanyamula — 2005 to 2011
From Ntchisi, Alhaj Yusuf Kanyamula served one term and chose not to stand for a second. During this period, many international Islamic NGOs were operating in Malawi independently, bypassing MAM entirely.
8. Sheikh Idrissa Muhammad — 2011 to Present
From Mangochi, Sheikh Idrissa Muhammad inherited an organisation that had been effectively bypassed by international donors for approximately 20 years. He spent three years making resource mobilisation visits to Gulf States — Kuwait, Dubai, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia — before successfully restoring foreign aid to MAM. Under his leadership, MAM has resumed construction of mosques, schools, clinics, water projects, and housing across all 28 districts of Malawi.