What is the Sultanate of Amexem?
The Sultanate of Amexem is the custodial governing authority for the descendants of the Nation of Moab — modernly identified as Moorish American. Reconstituted October 2020 under the House of Simmons Bey in Chicago, Illinois, it is the institutional continuation of a lineage of governance rooted in nationality, law, and the customs of our ancestors.
A Custodial Governing Authority
The Sultanate of Amexem is the custodial governing authority charged with the protection and security of the descendants of the Nation of Moab — a people modernly identified as Moorish American. The word custodial matters: the Sultanate does not invent the nation, it stewards it. The nationality, the lineage, and the rights of our people existed long before this institutional structure was reconstituted, and the body exists to safeguard what has always been ours.
Reconstituted in October 2020 under the House of Simmons Bey in Chicago, Illinois, the Sultanate operates under a written Constitution, a Declaration of Principles, and a defined governing structure. It is not a religious congregation, not a fraternal order, and not a non-profit advocacy group. It is a constitutional governing body — with offices, law, membership requirements, and the institutional mandate to act on behalf of its people.
The Sultanate exists in the same city where Noble Drew Ali organized the Moorish Science Temple of America. That is not coincidence. It is continuation. Read more in our full institutional history.
From Noble Drew Ali to the Modern Sultanate
In the early twentieth century, Noble Drew Ali rekindled the light of truth for a people who had been separated from their identity. He proclaimed that the so-called Negro was, in fact, Moorish American — a descendant of the ancient Moabites who inhabited the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa. This was not opinion. It was restoration.
Through the Moorish Science Temple of America (MSTA), Noble Drew Ali established the institutional framework upon which a nation could rebuild — a framework rooted in the principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom, and Justice. The MSTA was the seedbed. What followed required a structure capable of carrying nationality forward not only as faith, but as governance.
Continuation, not invention
The Sultanate of Amexem stands on this foundation. The principles taught by Noble Drew Ali are the principles the Sultanate governs by. The lineage he restored is the lineage the Sultanate protects. The Sultanate did not create the Moorish American identity — it inherited the obligation to defend it.
How the Sultanate Governs
The Sultanate operates under a written Constitution and a Declaration of Principles. Authority is distributed across a defined chain — not concentrated in any single office — so that the body remains accountable to its own law.
The Constitution & Declaration of Principles
The Constitution is the supreme written law of the Sultanate. It defines offices, sets the limits of power, and protects the rights of members. The Declaration of Principles articulates the moral and philosophical foundation — the non-negotiables — upon which every act of governance must stand.
The Governing Structure
- Allah — recognized as the supreme authority above all offices of the body.
- Executive Director — the principal officer responsible for executing the will of the body and representing the Sultanate externally.
- Chairman — presides over the deliberative organs of the Sultanate and safeguards constitutional order.
- Supreme Grand Council — the highest deliberative body, charged with policy, interpretation, and oversight.
- Grand Body of Sheiks — the assembly of recognized leaders representing the membership.
- Ministerial Board — operational ministers overseeing the substantive work of governance.
- Executive Board — administers day-to-day operations and reports up the chain.
A full breakdown of offices, qualifications, and responsibilities is published on the Government page.
What the Sultanate Does
Governance is meaningless without operations. The Sultanate discharges its mandate through concrete institutional work, much of it built on the principles of cooperative economics.
Education & study programs
Schools and structured study programs preserve the foundational knowledge of our people — history, nationality, law, scripture, and the writings of Noble Drew Ali — and prepare each generation to govern itself.
Certified businesses
The Sultanate certifies businesses owned and operated within the membership, channeling commerce inward and building economic infrastructure controlled by our own people. See the certification program.
Mutual aid & the Uplifting Fund
The Uplifting Fund is the Sultanate's mutual-aid mechanism — a pooled resource that supports members in moments of need and underwrites collective projects of advancement.
Sacred text preservation
The Sultanate preserves and transmits the sacred texts and documents of the Moorish American tradition — including the Holy Koran of the Moorish Science Temple, the Divine Constitution and By-Laws, and the historical record of the Nation of Moab.
Formal relations
As a custodial governing authority, the Sultanate engages in formal relations on behalf of the Moorish American people — presenting our customs, traditions, and standing in every arena where the nation must be represented.
Four Tiers of Standing
Standing within the Sultanate is not purchased — it is earned. Each tier requires demonstrated commitment, study, and contribution. Members rise through the body as they participate in its work.
Affiliate — Free
Entry standing. Access to public meetings, foundational resources, and an introductory study path. No financial obligation.
Community — $50/month
Active participation in community programs, mutual aid, and ongoing study. Supports the operational mandate of the body.
General Membership
Full standing within the body. Voting rights and the obligations that accompany them. Earned through demonstrated commitment.
Lead Membership
Leadership standing. Eligibility for office, oversight roles, and representation within the governing organs of the Sultanate.
Detailed requirements and the path between tiers are described on the Citizenship page.
Why “Moorish American”?
Moorish American is not a label invented for convenience. It is the proper nationality of the descendants of the ancient Moabites — the people who inhabited the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa long before the slave trade. The name names a lineage. It restores a continuity that was deliberately obscured.
Noble Drew Ali gave this name back to the people. He taught that a nation without a name is no nation at all, and that the slave-given labels — Negro, Black, Colored, Ethiopian — were not nationalities but descriptions imposed from outside. The MSTA's foundational instruction (often referenced as Act Six of the Divine Constitution and By-Laws) speaks directly to this question of name, free national name, and the obligation to proclaim it.
For a deeper treatment of the term, the lineage, and how the Sultanate honors it, see Moorish American — and read about the man who restored it on the Noble Drew Ali page.
Where to Begin
There are three doors into the Sultanate. Walk through any of them — most who stand with the body have walked through all three.
1. Attend a Friday meeting
Friday gatherings are the heartbeat of the community. They are open to those investigating the Sultanate and free for Affiliate-level participants. See the events calendar for upcoming dates and locations.
2. Study the foundational texts
The teachings of Noble Drew Ali, the writings of the Moorish Science Temple of America, and the founding documents of the Sultanate are all available in the resources library. Read before you apply.
3. Apply for membership
When ready, submit a formal membership application. The Sultanate reviews each application against the standards set by its governing law.
Common Questions About the Sultanate of Amexem
What is the Sultanate of Amexem?
The Sultanate of Amexem is the custodial governing authority for the protection and security of the descendants of the Nation of Moab, modernly identified as Moorish American. It is a constitutional governing body — not a movement, not a temple, not a non-profit — operating under written law and structured leadership.
When was the Sultanate of Amexem founded?
The Sultanate was reconstituted in October 2020 under the House of Simmons Bey in Chicago, Illinois. While reconstituted in the modern era, it stands on the foundation laid by Noble Drew Ali and the Moorish Science Temple of America beginning in 1913.
Who leads the Sultanate of Amexem?
Leadership is exercised through a structured government: an Executive Director, a Chairman, the Supreme Grand Council, the Grand Body of Sheiks, a Ministerial Board, and an Executive Board. Allah is recognized as the supreme authority above all offices.
What does Moorish American mean?
Moorish American is the proper nationality of the descendants of the ancient Moabites who inhabited the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa. It is the name proclaimed by Noble Drew Ali to restore a people separated from their true identity — replacing slave-given labels with a lineage and a nationality.
How do I join the Sultanate?
Membership is earned through four tiers — Affiliate, Community, General, and Lead. Begin as a free Affiliate, attend a Friday meeting, study the foundational texts, and apply through the official application process. Each tier requires demonstrated standing within the body.
What is the Sultanate's relationship to the Moorish Science Temple of America?
The Moorish Science Temple of America, established by Noble Drew Ali, laid the institutional and spiritual foundation upon which the Sultanate stands. The Sultanate carries forward the principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom, and Justice within a governing — rather than purely religious — framework.
Where is the Sultanate of Amexem located?
The Sultanate was reconstituted in Chicago, Illinois — the same city where Noble Drew Ali organized the Moorish Science Temple of America. Its mandate extends to Moorish Americans wherever they stand.
Begin Your Standing
The Sultanate of Amexem is the custodial governing authority for the Moorish American people. Standing within it begins with a single decision — to claim your nationality and apply.
Apply for Membership