The Africa Institute has announced the release of its seventh publication, The Agawats of the Two Holy Mosques, a detailed historical study by Professor Ahmed Abdulrahim Nasr. Written in Arabic, the book focuses on a centuries-old service group charged with caring for Islam’s holiest sites—the Grand Mosque in Mecca (Masjid al-Haram) and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina (Masjid al-Nabawi). The Agawats formed a distinct community, with their own customs, ranks, and responsibilities. Established in the seventh century AH (fourteenth century AD), they played a prominent role in the religious and social life of the Two Holy Mosques. The book documents the group’s organization, internal hierarchy, attire, duties, and status within society. It also examines the decline of the institution over time, suggesting its eventual disappearance, as has happened with other historic sects tied to these sacred spaces. Authored by Professor Ahmed Abdulrahim Nasr, a Sudanese scholar with academic credentials from the University of Khartoum and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has written extensively on African oral history, folklore, and Islamic cultural traditions. His previous appointments include teaching posts in Sudan and Malaysia, as well as research work in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. He was honored at the 21st Sharjah International Storytelling Forum for his contributions to preserving cultural heritage. The Agawats of the Two Holy Mosques is available at Meroë, The Africa Institute’s on-campus bookshop. For any inquiries, email info@theafricainstitute.org. Other Arabic-language titles in the Institute’s publications series include: In addition to its book series, The Africa Institute collaborates with Skira—one of the oldest and most respected publishers of art and visual culture—on co-publications that explore African and African diasporic contributions to global visual heritage. The Institute’s Writing Africa series features periodical booklets in the humanities and social sciences that introduce diverse genres of African expression, from literature and theater to music and visual cultures, while critically engaging with the continent’s histories, presents, and futures. The Institute also publishes academic journals, beginning with Monsoon: Journal of the Indian Ocean Rim, produced in collaboration with Duke University Press. Through its publishing program, The Africa Institute supports scholarship by African and Africanist writers, promoting new research across history, politics, culture, and the arts. Click here to learn more about the publication.