Imam San Cham - Cambodian muslims22

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The Imam San Cham trace the Kingdom of Champa (present-day Vietnam) and practice a unique syncretic form of Islam blended with elements of other Asian religions. For this reason, they are oftentimes targeted by Islamic missionaries wishing to convert them to "Modern Cham" a more conservative and mainstream form of Sunni Islam.

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Two teams from Modern Cham (Muslim) villages face off in a soccer match in the Kampong Tralach district north of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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A stage designed for wedding portraits is set up in the bride's new home, a common feature of modern Cambodian weddings. The Imam San Cham trace the Kingdom of Champa (present-day Vietnam) and practic... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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Km 8 Mosque © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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Eng Chan, 23, an Imam San Cham bride, is covered in ochre paste to color her skin the evening before her wedding. This ritual bath of both bride and groom is one of many rituals practiced over three d... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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During chai ceremonies, sometimes animal spirits take possession of the participants. Here, a woman possessed by a monkey spirit clings to a tent pole while bananas are offered. Imam San chai ceremoni... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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A traditional ceremonial fried dough cookie is used by the Imam San Cham during weddings and religious holidays. The Imam San Cham trace the Kingdom of Champa (present-day Vietnam) and practice a uniq... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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Women from the Imam San Cham (Cambodian Muslim) minority spend days preparing a feast for wedding guests in Orussey village. The Imam San Cham trace the Kingdom of Champa (present-day Vietnam) and pra... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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Garment workers, who are predominantly female, are transported every workday to nearby textile factories. The Imam San Cham trace the Kingdom of Champa (present-day Vietnam) and practice a unique sync... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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Imam San Cham bride Aisah Azanna wears traditional makeup and headdress during her wedding ceremony in Oroussey. The Imam San Cham trace the Kingdom of Champa (present-day Vietnam) and practice a uniq... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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Leb Sim, the spiritual leader of the Imam San Cham in the village of Tramung Chrum, northwest of Phnom Penh. The Imam San Cham trace the Kingdom of Champa (present-day Vietnam) and practice a unique s... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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A woman selling edible water hyacinth flowers in the market in Orussey village north of Phnom Penh, an Imam San Cham community. The Imam San Cham trace the Kingdom of Champa (present-day Vietnam) and... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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Toh Man teaches Cham language lessons to children outside the local mosque in Oroussey. The Cham language is unique to the Imam San Cham. During the reign of the Khmer Rouge many texts were hidden or... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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One of the highlights of life in an Imam San village is the elaborate wedding tradition ?three days of colorful and unique rituals. In January when the weather is dry and pleasant, weddings are held n... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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A strand of Aisah Azanna's (the bride) hair is cut by one of the village elders during one of the rituals that is part of a traditional Imam San Cham wedding, in Oroussey village. The Imam San Cham tr... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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In Oroussey, a woman soaks palm fronds in a pond to be used for repairing a roof. The Imam San Cham trace the Kingdom of Champa (present-day Vietnam) and practice a unique syncretic form of Islam blen... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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Historic Cham texts, including their unique prayer books which blend Islam and Cham history are being preserved after having survived the period of the Khmer Rouge, when the were threatened with extin... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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Modern Cham women who live in a fishing community have prospered from working abroad, where they also learned to become more devout. This woman who lived and worked at a supermarket in Malaysia rejoin... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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Children from the Chroy Changvar Modern Cham (Muslim) fishing community in Phnom Penh who unlike the Imam San Cham practice a globalized and conservative version of Sunni Islam. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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Imam San chai ceremonies are rituals rooted in ancient pre-Islamic practices, which channel the souls of ancestor spirits and in some cases, reenact scenes from Cham history. A performer is animated b... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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A traditional Chai ceremony for in the village Phase Trach, used to thank the ancestors after recovering from an illness.The Imam San Cham trace the Kingdom of Champa (present-day Vietnam) and practic... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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A boy outside his home near the Kilometer 8 Mosque north of Phnom Penh, home to the many Modern Cham (Muslim) communities. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

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An elder in the Imam San Cham community uses a drum to announce the start of the Friday prayer at the Orrusey Mosque in a village north of Phnom Penh. The Imam San Cham trace the Kingdom of Champa (pr... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen