On Heritage Day (Saturday 24 September) Capetonians get to taste and experience Muslim culture and history during an informative free tour through the Bo-Kaap.
The event, organised by the Boorhaanol Islam Movement and the Tana Baru Trust, aims to educate people, especially non-Muslims, about the culture.
The area, formerly known as the Malay Quarter, boasts a rich cultural history.
Situated at the foot of Signal Hill, the Bo-Kaap’s origins date back to the 1760s when numerous rental houses were built and leased to slaves.
They were known as Cape Malays, and were brought from Malaysia, Indonesia and the rest of Africa to work in the Cape.
Abdul Bassier, Secretary of the Boorhaanol Islam Movement, explains that people can choose from a selection of three tours.
He says these tours include a tour inside one of the oldest mosques in Cape Town.
“Very few non-Muslims have been inside a Mosque. So, we are offering people that opportunity, so it’s an open day for the Boorhaanol Mosque based in Longmarket Street.
“It is the first mosque in South Africa to be constructed with a Minaret (a tall slender tower of a mosque having one or more balconies from which the call to prayer is said). It was a wooden structure at the time.”
Bassier adds: “We would like non-Muslims to attend and allow them to see what goes on inside a mosque. The Imam of the mosque, Shaikh Muhammad West, will do a short tour explaining what Islam is and answer questions.”
The second tour is a visit to the Bo-Kaap Cultural Hub where an exhibition of cultural traditions will be on display.
He says it is imperative that people book their time slot in advance.
Bassier says: “The exhibition is called ‘Cradle to the grave’ which gives you insight into what the Cape Muslim lifestyle is all about. It’s called that because it’s from when a child is born, all the cultural practices and traditions linked to that, until the person dies. If you have a friend that is Muslim, you get acquainted with what happens when someone dies and what procedure follows.”
He says people will get to understand what it means when a Muslim goes on pilgrimage and many other traditions.
Bassier explains that the third tour is a visit to the Tana Baru Gardens of Remembrance.
The Tana Baru Cemetery is a Muslim cemetery where some of the earliest and respected Muslim pioneers were buried.
“This is an historic site, and you get a great view of the City Bowl and Table Mountain from here. There are a lot of new developments happening there. Three shrines are located there.”
He says there will also be refreshments available after each tour, but adds that it is important that people book a specific time slot ahead of time.
Bassier encourages people to use the opportunity to explore and learn more about the Muslim culture.
“People can book for all three tours or one of the three. There are different time slots for each.”
- For more information and to book your spot for any of the tours visit https://forms.gle/W65afCtRCa3gCR8J7
