Building a culture far from home

Religion plays a crucial role in the life of African Muslims overseas, and the Guangzhou authorities should make greater efforts to embrace the distinct cultural traditions, said Adams Bodomo, a professor of African Studies at the University of Vienna.

"Africans in the diaspora form communities at several levels, and one of them is at the level of religion or religious affiliation. That's why there are both Muslim and Christian communities in Guangzhou," said Bodomo, who published a book on Africans in China in 2012.

He said the African community is normally perceived as a homogenous entity by Guangzhou locals, but the Muslims have formed a cohesive society whose members rarely mix with non-Muslim Africans. However, just like other Africans in the city, Muslims regard trade and the search for business opportunities as their main priorities.