When Gamoj was founded in 1990, it was difficult for foreign nationals in Japan to gain proper access to the public and private spaces needed to hold gatherings. Naturally, this made it very difficult for African born residents of Japan to build a sense of community.
Somewhere they could come together to discuss their unique experiences, share advice about integrating into the Japanese culture, or even just play soccer.
At the time, there existed only one community group for Africans, known as the African Club. It was founded by a Ghanian diplomat working at the Ghanian embassy in Tokyo. Originally, the group was a welcoming place for all Africans – somewhere they could come together to discuss their unique experiences, share advice about integrating into the Japanese culture, or even just play soccer.
As the group’s membership began to swell, it became apparent that the vast majority of its new members were of Muslim descent. And while the club has always respected people of all heritages and religions, it became clear that Islam was now a central tenant of the community. As a result, its members began to refocus the group’s activities around the Muslim religion, which eventually leads to the forming of GAMOJ.
Some Muslim members of the group were studying at the nearby Todai University at the time. This University hosted Muslims from around the world, including Americans, North Africans, and Europeans, but the vast majority of its Muslim students came from Ghana. With the welcomed guidance of University Authorities, these students helped to secure an on campus gathering place for the group’s rapidly growing membership to congregate.
In the year of 1992, it became clear that the organization needed to undergo dramatic reform in order to better suit the needs of its clientele. After much debate, it was decided that the group would change its name to the African Muslims Organization of Japan (AMOJ). AMOJ would meet sporadically in the following months, taking advantage of whatever opportunities the University presented them. Soon, AMOJ had the good fortune of acquiring a regular meeting place.
AMOJ member Al Haj Salis Frank brought word that they were granted the rights to rent the city public hall at Komagome in Toshima-Ku Tokyo. This stability allowed AMOJ’s numbers to continue growing, leading to the eventual relocation to Komagome.
By now, the AMOJ community had grown so large that there was talk of implementing leadership and a constitution. AMOJ’s core principles were established over many meetings, resulting in the draft of its formal constitution. These principles would shape the future of the organization.
Life was often difficult for African nationals in Japan… AMOJ began paying for its members’ legal and medical fees, in addition to providing rent support to members who had lost their employment.
After winning the popular vote, Adargo Sam was elected as the first President of AMOJ. Originally elected to serve a two year term, his mandate was eventually extended by an additional two years, giving him more time to implement the policies that have come to define the group’s activities.
During this period, AMOJ became instrumental in providing tangible assistance to its members. Life was often difficult for African nationals in Japan, who often faced the threat of arrest by Immigration Authorities, lack of equal access to employment opportunities, and a general hesitancy to be welcomed into Japanese society. AMOJ began paying for its members’ legal and medical fees, in addition to providing rent support to members who had lost their employment.
In 1996, Vice President Malam Mustapha Zarkaria Bakudi was elected to take over as the new President. This was an era of hardship and challenges, but also one of growth and resilience. President Mustapha Zakaria Bakudi did his part, faced with several challenges. After a little beyond a year of leadership, there was crises which necessitated Adargo Sam’s come back and continue. In 1998 AMOJ was relocated to Gyotoku – Ichikawa City in Chiba prefecture. It was here that the group’s name was officially changed to Ghana African Muslim Organization in Japan (GAMOJ), with respect to its dominating Ghanaian membership.
In 2019, GAMOJ finally settled in its current location at Soka Shinden in Saitama Prefecture in Soka City. GAMOJ is currently registered as GAMOJ Cultural Center where it operates as a certified Non-Profit Organization.
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًۭاوَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟
And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.