| The city of Cape Town is situated on the south | | | | Christianity by their owners and so turned to |
| western tip of the African continent, in one of the | | | | Islam. |
| most beautiful natural locations in the world. | | | | Muslim slaves imported from Africa to build the |
| The Cape Malay Quarter, or 'Bo-Kaap' which | | | | Table Bay breakwater were known as 'Free |
| sprawls along the slopes of Signal Hill, bordering | | | | Blacks'. They married into the community and |
| our city, presents a scenario of enduring historic | | | | contributed to the spread of the Islamic way of |
| and cultural significance. It's certainly worth taking | | | | life among them. |
| the time to explore the area when you come to | | | | Apart from the unique development of the |
| Cape Town. | | | | Afrikaans language, the Islamic culture became |
| The establishment of the Cape Malay people | | | | embedded among the slaves when prominent |
| evolved with the Islamic influences which became | | | | Muslim noblemen, 'Orang Cayen' (men of power |
| their religion and culture during the years of | | | | and influence) political exiles from Asia who had |
| slavery in Cape Town in the 18th century and | | | | opposed colonisation of their countries by the |
| beyond. | | | | Dutch, were 'banished' to the Cape. They were |
| The 'Malay' term is understood to have been used | | | | influentual in laying the foundations for Islam in the |
| by the Colonial settlers to describe this growing | | | | Cape slave community |
| Islamic faith among the Cape slaves and their | | | | The most prominent among the Orang Cayen |
| descendants, and not, as commonly thought, their | | | | was Sheikh Yusuf of Mucassar (Indonesia), a |
| origins. | | | | revered Sufi scholar whose Kramat is situated |
| During the era when the Cape was under the rule | | | | today at Macasser on the Cape Flats. |
| of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), slaves | | | | The Cape Malay community settled in what |
| were imported in order to provide labour in the | | | | became known as the Bo-Kaap area of Cape |
| building of the city. They were shipped in from | | | | Town. They passed on their Islamic faith and |
| other parts of Africa and also from Madagascar, | | | | culture down through their descendants, many of |
| India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Indonesia and South East | | | | whom still live there. The first Mosque built there |
| Asia. Many were sold as personal slaves. They | | | | in 1798 is known as Awwal Mosque. |
| brought with them a wide range of occupations | | | | Today the Cape Maly Quarter largely retains its |
| and skills. | | | | original appeal of steep cobbled streets and |
| Many of these people intermingled over the | | | | brightly coloured buildings built in the traditional |
| following years with the indigenous Khoi San | | | | fashion, interspersed with Mosques for worship. |
| people and the Dutch settlers. Their need for | | | | Much of the area has been upgraded amd |
| spiritual independance led them to establish an | | | | modernised however and many buildings have |
| active Moslim religion and culture within their | | | | been sold and revamped, as developers take |
| community. They built a number of Kramats (holy | | | | advantage of a popular housing market. |
| burial sites) around the Bo-Kaap and Cape Town | | | | When you're in the area make a point of visiting |
| area to commemorate Muslim leaders and sheikhs. | | | | the Bo-Kaap Museum in Upper Wale st. See the |
| These shrines have become symbols of religious | | | | Kramats and Mosques, experience the unique |
| expression. | | | | cuisine and get a personal insight into the original |
| The earliest Cape Muslims were slaves of Dutch | | | | way of life and long standing traditions of the |
| officials. They were initially forbidden to practise | | | | Malay Quarter. |