The World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates Branch in Mali held an awareness seminar, attended by 200 people, in Bamako entitled “How do we address the new Kemetic phenomenon?” Moulay Hadi Koraychi, member of the Branch, spoke at the event, introducing this group, which is a spiritual sect seeking to revive ancient Egyptian religion. The followers of this movement believe it to be the oldest African religion existing within the continent and they call for abandoning Abrahamic religions, describing them as religions imported from outside the continent and returning to believing in ancient pagan beliefs.
He indicated that this movement emerged in the late 1970s, with the rise of supporters of the new paganism idea, which calls for reviving ancient religious beliefs. There are several ideas adopted by the followers of this movement specifically in Africa, mainly focused on reviving ancient Egyptian religion and abandoning other religions.
He added that this movement adopts a number of ideas, such as the concept of African origin of ancient Egyptian civilization, African unity, African centrism and hostility towards foreign cultures, especially Arabs.
It is worth noting that the Supreme Islamic Council of Mali, being the body authorized to rule on religious issues, received many inquiries and requests for religious rulings from the Muslim community in Mali, including individuals and Islamic associations, regarding Islam’s position on the sect called Kemetism and similar beliefs. This is due to the known hostility of this sect’s members towards Islam. The Council declared that this doctrine is considered an act of disbelief (kufr) and its adherents are not Muslims. Muslims should be cautious of the calls and ideas through which Kemetists enter, such as returning to ancestral civilization and similar notions that lead to denying the pillars of faith.
