Fozia Bora

Professor Fozia Bora serves as Professor of Islamic History at the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds, specializing in Arabic historiography, medieval Islamic world book cultures, community curation in heritage sectors, and local/global histories of Yorkshire's Muslim communities. Her work bridges academic scholarship with public engagement through decolonial frameworks and inclusive pedagogy.

Her academic credentials include:

• DPhil in Oriental Studies, University of Oxford
• MPhil in Oriental Studies, University of Oxford
• BA Hons in English, University of Oxford
• Chartered Management Institute Level 5 Certificate in Coaching & Mentoring

Research focuses on two interconnected strands: medieval Islamic history (Fatimid, Ayyubid, Mamluk eras, 12th-15th centuries CE) and contemporary Muslim communities in West Yorkshire. Her pioneering monograph reinterprets chronicles as archives through "archivality," while her collaborative "Somali Village in Colonial Bradford" project excavates 1904 ethnographic troupe records to challenge colonial narratives and empower community curation. She actively integrates historical analysis with modern social contexts.

Publications reveal consistent engagement with medieval Islamic textual preservation and historiographical methods, evolving toward contemporary applications like Qur'anic manuscript analysis. Her work consistently examines how historical narratives inform modern Muslim identity and community formation, particularly through public scholarship platforms.

Key recognitions include:

• Women of Achievement Award (University of Leeds, 2021) for community research engagement
• Royal Asiatic Society Staunton Prize for historiographical research on Fatimid libraries

She has supervised over ten PhD/MA students to completion across diverse topics from medieval historiography to contemporary gender studies. Major research funding includes LAHRI, Brotherton Library, ESRC/LSSI Impact Acceleration Account, and School of LCS awards for the Somali Village project, supported by University of Bradford, Bradford Literature Festival, and Bradford City of Culture 2025 partnerships.

Active in Arabic History and Gender research groups at Leeds, she co-founded the Iqbal Centre and maintains critical partnerships with Bradford institutions for community-centered heritage work, emphasizing collaborative knowledge production beyond traditional academic boundaries.