Un Islam Insolite | An Unusual Islam, the Bani Cham in modern Vietnam

The Bani Cham (literally, ​‘members of the Cham community) culture reflect the continuity of ancient Cham traditions, including matriarcal social structure, worship of the ancestors and the ancient Champa kings, Brahmanist liturgy, while incorporating influences from modern Islam.

The author of the documentary gained access to several ceremonies that are usually kept among the community. She considers this particular form of Southeast Asian syncretism, the emergence of a more politicized Islam among the community, the differences with the important Cham community in Cambodia, often designated by the name Khmer Islam.

While Khmer people have reconnected with their Angkorean past, and the Vietnamese with a modern take on the history of early Da Viet kingdoms, the Bani Cham community is probably the sole instance of modern connection to the ancient Kingdom of Champa.