ABSTRACT
Islam was slow to become established and see significant growth in Papua New Guinea. A major reason for this, since 1975 at least, was that Islam’s presence was opposed by successive PNG governments on the basis that it was seen as a threat to security and stability in the country. The early history and establishment of Islam in PNG provides a detailed background to contextualise the more recent conversion growth. It highlights why, despite the relatively low number of conversions in the period prior to 2001, the organisational capacity and relationships that developed between 1976 and 1987 played an important role in supporting later Islamic conversion growth. The pre-independence history is notable for the shallow penetration of Islam and possibly new evidence (from fieldwork) of early, yet unsuccessful, Islamic missionary activity. The post-independence period (1976-1987) covers the arrival of Muslim expatriates through to the time of the first conversions of indigenous PNG nationals. The post-independence period details the process of Islam’s institutionalisation and formal recognition as a religion despite opposition from PNG political and religious elites, as a result of the efforts and activities of Islamic groups (governments and non-government organisations) and individual expatriate Muslims. History provides a key analytical dimension for understanding religious conversion (Rambo 1993). Collating and documenting Islam’s history in PNG facilitates an understanding of the nature and depth of social and religious influences and networks that over time have contributed to the propagation of Islam. Additionally, the history provides the wider context for analysing the social milieu and linkages to globalisation theories of religious conversion (Rambo 1993: 26-30). Establishing the empirical basis of Islam in PNG prior to independence is also essential for testing the converts’ ‘biographical reconstructions’ postconversion, that their ancestors were Muslim before Christian missionaries came (Rambo 1993: 137-139). In comparison with the activities of expatriate Muslims and the resultant growth of indigenous Muslim communities post-independence, the Muslim presence in the pre-colonial and colonial period of what is now PNG is noteworthy for the lack of missionary intent shown by early Muslims, the lack of organisational and material support, and the limited degree of proselytisation.
