Capetown:Bo-Kaap
The Bo-Kaap, formerly the Cape Malay quarter, on the slope of Signal Hill is a unique way to get to know the Cape Malay community better and is one of the main attractions of Capetown. Many of the Cape Malay people are descendants of Muslim slaves from Indonesia , Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia, that the Dutch brought over in the 17th and 18th century. The Cape Malays have preserved their cultural identity and Muslemic creed which played a major part in the development of culture and language Afrikaans in the Cape.
The Bo-Kaap definitely invites you to take a quiet stroll through narrow cobble stone streets, lined by the typical quaint little colourful houses which are characteristic of the neighbourhood. Have a look in the Bo-Kaap museum which is the oldest original house in the area. Here you can delve into the history of the Cape Malay Muslim Community and it might inspire you to visit one of the mosques or kramats along the way . And if you get tired and hungry from the sightseeing just step into one of the restaurants where the food is still served in the traditional way, sitting on the floor and eating with your hands. The cuisine of the Malay people is delicious and had a great influence on the cooking in the Cape, even in South Africa.
I you should be in Capetown on the second of January and you see a parade of men, women and children in colourful suits with hats and umbrellas marching in the direction of Green Point stadium while singing and dancing, you are witnessing the annual “coon parade” of the Cape Malays. It wont take your feet long to start tapping to the rhythm….the enthusiasm that you see is contagious.
