The Bo-Kaap district is one of the oldest and most fascinating residential areas in Cape Town. Situated on the slopes of Signal Hill, not far from the Parliament, Bo-Kaap has its own distinct and very strong identity. The residents even speak their own dialect of Afrikaans, although it is gradually losing ground to English.

Cape Malay Origins

Many of today’s Bo-Kaap residents are descended from slaves who were brought to Cape Town in the 16th and 17th centuries. Rather than enslaving members of the local population, Dutch settlers instead imported slaves from other parts of Africa, as well as Madagascar, India, and Sri Lanka, with a very small percentage from Malaysia. Nonetheless, the slaves of the Cape colony were dubbed Cape Malay, and the name stuck. Because of the blend of Asian, white, and black people, the Bo-Kaap of today has a very racially mixed population.

Deceptively Quaint

As you walk along Bo-Kaap streets, you’ll see many brightly coloured 19th century Dutch and Georgian terraces which provide a rather deceptively quaint atmosphere. With the exception of Wale Street, a main thoroughfare, this is not an area that tourists should explore alone. Even though Cape Town authorities are making great efforts to reduce the crime rate, tourists are advised to join one of the tours that take visitors through the neighbourhood. The guides are often Bo-Kaap residents who know the streets well and are full of interesting information.

The Bo-Kaap Museum

A good place to start a tour of the Bo-Kaap is the Bo-Kaap Museum. Located at 71 Wale St., near the Buitengragt end, it was once the home of Abu Bakr Effendi. He was a 19th century Muslim religious leader from Turkey who the British brought to Cape Town in 1862 to act as a peacemaker between feuding Muslim factions. Abu soon became a leading member of the community. He founded an Arabic school, and wrote a book in the local Afrikaans vernacular – thought to be possibly the first book ever published in Afrikaans. The museum displays many of his possessions. There are also exhibits pertinent to local Islamic traditions.

Cape Town’s First Official Mosque

On Dorp St., one block south of the Bo-Kaap Museum, is the Auwal. Dating back to 1797, this was the first official mosque not only in Cape Town, but also all of South Africa. Its founder was Imam Abdullah ibn Qadi Abd-al-Salam, known to his followers as Tuan Guru (Master Teacher). He was a Moluccan prince who was exiled to Robben Island in 1780 for opposing Dutch imperialism in the East Indies. While he was on the island he wrote a series of important Islamic commentaries which greatly influenced Muslims in the Cape colony. After his release in 1792, he founded the Auwal. Today however, not all of the residents of the Bo-Kaap are Muslim. Because of the neighbourhood’s architectural charm and central location, it has become attractive to non-Muslim Capetonians as well. Houses fetch high prices, and many have been sold to people from outside the community.

Author Bio: Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made Cape Town holidays, as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Cape Town