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Cape Malay culture unveiled
September 2nd, 2008
Ulpha Edries takes a look at what it means to be a Muslim in Cape Town.
This is not a decree on what it’s like to be Cape Malay. Rather, an adventure, whether you’re Muslim or not - you too can join in on our rituals, ceremonies and celebrations to experience our lifestyle when visiting the Mother City.
Firstly, it’s important to note that Cape Malays are descendents from the early Muslim people brought to the Cape by the Dutch East India Company. Being Malay Muslim in Cape Town often gets misunderstood. It's cultural as well as religious.
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Welcome in the festivities of Ramadan, as you take a Cape Town city break.
Let the celebrations begin
The Islamic year sees the celebration of many annual festivities, from celebrating the Prophet’s (Peace be Upon Him) birthday, to the two Eids. But then again, each carries its own merit and the celebrations are always seismic when it comes to the festivity scale.
Take these for example…
Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.
Muslims all over the world embark on a month of fasting. Ramadan is believed to be the month in which the Quran was revealed as guidance for humanity to distinguish between "right and wrong".
Muslims show their dedication by fasting - this sacrifice helps them to develop empathy and compassion for those in need. Fasting times are regulated by the sun - one has to wake-up before sunrise to eat. The day's fast is then broken after the sunset, preferably with dates and water.
Sighting of the moon
Eid means “festivity”. In the Muslim calendar, the witnessing a new moon marks the end of an old month and the beginning of new one.
On the last day of Ramadan, Muslims from all over Cape Town gather at Sea Point to witness the new moon, which signals the end of the fasting period. It is also that time of the year when you can expect to meet people you haven't seen in ages.
The first Eid, Eid ul-Fitr is then celebrated the following day with great feasting; Muslims give money to the poor and also wear their best clothes.
The second Eid
Eid ul-Fitr lasts three days and is considered "the smaller Eid".
Eid al-Adha's religious significance coincides with Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, as it falls annually on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja - also verified by a specific sighting of the moon.
This pilgrimage to 'Makkah' is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world and the fifth pillar of Islam. It is an obligation that must be carried out at least once by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.
Eid al-Adha is believed to be the commemoration of God's forgiveness of Ibrahim (Abraham) from his vow to sacrifice his son and usually takes place when the pilgrims descend from Mount Arafat, approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.
Food, food, food…
From koeksisters, milk tart, samoosas, gatsby and all things delectable, finding something good to eat in Cape Town is not difficult at all, especially when it comes to Cape Malay celebrations - but more specifically engagements and weddings.
A Cape Malay engagement marks a public and private ceremony where the prospective in-laws come to ask the father of the bride-to-be's hand in marriage. The dowry (which can take the form of anything from a house to a Kruger rand, McDonalds is not acceptable!) is also discussed between the two fathers and it is at the discretion of the bride and groom whether this is made public.
On the day of the wedding the bridegroom and the respective fathers, accompanied by other male relatives, head to mosque where the bridegroom now asks to get married (nikkah). The father of the bride will accept and they do the dowry exchange. While this is happening, the bride, her wedding party and all the females are busy getting dressed.
At a typical Malay wedding, which is never small, the bridegroom's family traditionally presents the bridal couple with a lavish wedding feast. The couple can decide to share the food amongst the families or give it to a charity of their choice.
And finally eating out and takeaways should not be ignored.
For a true Cape Malay restaurant, try Biesmallah restaurant and Bo-Kaap Kombuis. They’re both very different restaurants situated in Bo-Kaap but offer a true sense of the typical Cape cultural cuisine.
Try Mariam’s Kitchen or Wembley Roadhouse for an unforgettable Malay experience.
For more delightful dishes and Cape Malay culinary experiences, also check out Food24.
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Malay article.
Ulpha, why don't you a series of this culture, its sounds interesting, but somehow you missed the vibrancy of the culture,
Cape Malay culture unveiled - Ulpha Edries
If writing be the food of life, write on... Well done, interesting article.
good article
Im Malay. Thought it was a good article.
I don't care really if it Indians who owns the restaurant, a koeksiter is the same to me whether I bought it at a restaurant owned by an Indian or Malay person. Same goes for gatsby, salomies, samoosas, etc. I think these are all things that 'myCapeMalayself' and my Cape Malay friends enjoy.
I heard of dowries occuring in the way desrcibed in the article. Maybe we all should do some research before we post generalised comments.
I also find it really hard to fathom how this article could have "disasterous repocussions".
Cool article. Made me feel for a an INDIAN double hotdog with cheese and whopper sauce.
good article?
Is it the reader's job to do the research before posting comments though? Erm... no! That's why we have writers who are supposed to do that work for us, so that we may read at our leisure. Rather in this case, at our annoyance!
Furthermore, I have not seen Wembley selling gatsby's or koeksisters which is what I think the other posters comments are about. Gatsby = Cape Malay. Wembley no sell gatsby.. Wembley sell Tandoori Chicken... Tandoori Chicken = Indian culture.
Salaams
Good Article??
Yes, it is their jobs.
But you posting comments impacts all other readers leisure. If you feel like submitting comments without validilty please consider others.
hotdog = indian? ; burger = indian ; pie = indian ; hotchips = indian ; milkshake = indian? ; toasted cheese = indian?
I'm glad to see everyone is so in touch with their Cape Malay heritage considering it was a ethnic group category given to them by the pass aprtheid government. A sub category of the Cape Coloured group.
You're Cape Malay cause you were told so.
Its a good article cause the writer conveyed her experience of being "Cape Malay".
good article...
The comments section has been put up for a reason and everyone seems to be airing views, if you disagree with this, mail the editor and request that they remove it, or rather just don't read the comments.
Constructive critisism should be welcomed, I've read another article from the same writer, which was well written. It's wrong to name this article cape malay unveiled, but instead it's a personal account of someone's experience. Experience that not many cape malay muslims are familiar with (the 2 fathers discussing dowry on the engagement night) or that they disagree with (the one Eid being bigger/more religious than the other).
As for this ethnic category being given to us by the Apartheid government, so what? We have come to embrace and love Cape Malay culture and heritage - yes, alot of our culture was derived from oppression, but we are no longer oppressed! We are passionate about our culture, no matter where it came from, it has brought us to where we are today, which is why you see all these reader's comments about the skewed facts in the article.
Ulpha, don't be discouraged by these comments, use it to your advantage. Maybe simply name the articles correctly so that when it catches our eye, we have somewhat of an expectation as to what we are going to read. Ie, your personal views/experience of Cape Malay Culture as opposed to cape malay culture unveiled.
RE: no comment
The article reads "Try Mariam’s Kitchen or Wembley Roadhouse for an unforgettable Malay experience."
I highly doubt that Lassi, Potato Waddas, Ghulab Jambo, Jelebi and other kinds of Indian sweetmeats that Wembley sells are considered to be a Malay thing.
Cape Malay's can never agree
Just by reading all the comments, I realised this is what Cape Malay is...they can never agree on anything will never give somoene their due for trying to do something good...gazat
in response to this comment...
This is not a matter of being gazat or not. This is a matter of the integrity of a good journalist.
Yes, this is causing a big deal, probably drawing people to view this article and hence create traffic for gotravel24.com, so I'm sure that the bosses are very happy about this. But at the end of the day, this article has inaccurate facts. As a journalist, is your job not to relay facts and be unbiased? Clearly this is not the case, as this article is more based on personal experience. I doubt that any research was even done to support the 'facts' herein.
be careful
Ulpha please be careful when you right these type of articles. This can have disasterous repocussions. If it's factual then you have nobody to apologise to but writing from personal view point could cause great controversy.
poor article
I agree with the comment on culture versus Islam, its exactly that sort of mentality that the west thinks Islam is a religion that preaches violence and oppresses females.
This is a poorly written article and only contributes further to misunderstanding of what Islam really is.
Cape Malay culture
Thanks Ulpha...I found it an interesting article. I'm not a Muslim myself but I have always been fascinated with the rich Muslim (and dare I say Malay) culture in the Cape...
Best wishes for all on Ramadan.
(By the way: Wembley Roadhouse is the best...who cares whether it's owned by Indians!)
RE: Cape Malay Culture comment
It is exactly at articles like this that I cringe - The incorrect information is being given to readers, and here, a non-muslim who is fascinated by the Cape Malay culture is being given the incorrect facts.
By the name of the journalist, it is safe to say that she too is a Cape Malay, and it angers me to see that she has not done any research whatsoever into the culture. Thumbsucking and writing an article based on your own personal experience is one thing. Calling the article "CAPE MALAYS UNVEILED" is an insult to everyone who knows what being a Cape Malay entails.
It is exactly instances like these that gives muslims all over the world a distorted view of what it is like to be a muslim. I believe that this is an article based on the PERSONAL views of one muslim person, and not a valid article on Cape Malay Culture or the muslim religion based on the numerous inaccuracies in the content.
Malay culture vs Islam
Being a true muslim has got nothing to do with being malay,indian,white or black.Yes our forfathers came from all over the planet but muslim culture and malay culture is different.Muslim culture emanates from the prophet Muhammed(P.B.U.H) way of life.Malay culture comes from peoples behaviour which in most cases is contrary to the teachings of Islam.
As a muslim South African who has roots from Malayasia,India,Germany and Turkey,what do I call myself? A muslim born and bread in South Africa.South African Muslim
The apardheid born generation is still steeped in there tribal mentality trying to equate race with religion.
People who call themselves malay or Indian before being being muslim must have a faith check.Malayism and Indianism are man made cultures and being a muslim is one who submits his will to God.
Muslim resident of Cape Town
Malay culture vs Islam
As a muslim South African who has roots from Malayasia,India,Germany and Turkey,what do I call myself? A Russian Turkey!!!
Cape Malay Engagement
I think that it is wrong to say that "The dowry is discussed between the 2 fathers" ... on the night that they come to ask for the wife-to-be's hand in marriage. Now, I'm a Cape Malay married female, and I have NEVER heard of the 2 father's discussing the 'maskaavie' on that night. Instead, logistics like the date of the wedding and other things are discussed instead, and in some cases, the two families get to know each other a bit better.
The dowry is agreed upon by the wife and her father. The husband and his family are not even required to agree with the dowry!!
I feel that this article was poorly written, and that as a journalist, the correct facts need to be acknowledged BEFORE the article is published. It is not the reader's responsibility to fact-check and correct the journalist's article.
The Two Eids
Is it correct to say that Eid-ul-Adha is the religious Eid? That gives the impression that the first eid is not religious. That is incorrect.
The two Eids
Thanks for the great comment. Have noted the error and made the change. Look forward to hearing more of your comments.
Wembley and Mariam's is Malay?
Er....they're both Indian owned and run places, with a pre-dominantly Indian taste to their cuisine
Indian vs Malay
Why is there a rift between Indians and Malays ???
We are all MUSLIM !
I agree, both Indian owned,
I agree, both Indian owned, and now that you mention it, Mariam's curry does not taste like any malay curry that I've ever tasted..
True, true.
True, true.
sugar
i think if you add sugar to a meal its considered malay...