Chicago News

Louis Farrakhan is a prominent and highly controversial American religious leader, best known as the longtime head of the Nation of Islam (NOI), a Black nationalist organization that blends elements of Islam with African American empowerment teachings.

He has deep ties to Chicago, where the NOI's national headquarters is located and where he has lived for decades.

Here are the key aspects of his connection to the city:

Early Introduction to the Nation of Islam

Farrakhan (born Louis Eugene Walcott in 1933) first encountered the NOI's teachings in February 1955 while performing as a calypso singer in Chicago at a show called Calypso Follies. This moment led him to join the organization shortly after.

Leadership and Reestablishment in Chicago

After the death of NOI founder Elijah Muhammad in 1975 and a split in the group, Farrakhan revived the original Nation of Islam in the late 1970s. He officially reestablished it under the NOI name in 1981, with Chicago as its base. He purchased and refurbished Elijah Muhammad’s former mosque in 1988, transforming it into Mosque Maryam (also known as Muhammad Mosque No. 2), which serves as the NOI's national headquarters to this day.

The mosque is located on South Stony Island Avenue and hosts major events like the annual Saviours’ Day celebrations (often in Chicago or nearby), where Farrakhan has delivered many key addresses.

Residence in Chicago

Farrakhan resides in a historic mansion in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood (on the South Side), originally built for or associated with Elijah Muhammad. This 21-room home on Woodlawn Avenue, with its distinctive North African-inspired design, marble floors, and crystal chandeliers, has been his primary residence for years.

Current Status

As of early 2026, Farrakhan is 92 years old. He has faced significant health challenges over the years (including prostate cancer treatment complications in the 2000s and ongoing issues), which led him to reduce public appearances and delegate more responsibilities. For instance, at the 2025 Saviours’ Day event in Chicago, he made only a limited appearance and did not deliver the main keynote. Despite this, he remains the spiritual leader, with the NOI continuing its work under his influence.

Farrakhan is a polarizing figure — admired by many in the Black community for promoting self-reliance, discipline, and economic independence, but widely criticized for antisemitic, racist, and other inflammatory statements over the decades. His base and influence, however, remain firmly rooted in Chicago.

17GEN4.com