Scene on Radio Guest Episode: More Muslim
Apr 30, 2026
Aunty Shireen, longtime Bo-Kaap resident and community leader; Mohamed Groenewald, oral historian of Cape Malay heritage; and Aina J. Khan, British-Pakistani reporter who moved to Cape Town. They trace Bo-Kaap’s Indonesian roots, Sheikh Yusuf and early madrasas. They describe secret worship under colonial rule, apartheid survival, and the present threat of gentrification, protests, and displacement.
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Dhikr That Moved A Reporter To Tears
- Aina J. Khan describes being moved to physical pain by the Cape Malay melodic dhikr at a masjid.
- She contrasts it with monotone recitations from her British-Pakistani upbringing, highlighting unique musical worship.
Cape Malay Origins From Indonesian Exile
- The Cape Malay community in Cape Town traces to 17th-century Indonesian political exiles sent by Dutch colonizers.
- Sheikh Yusuf and other educated leaders preserved Islamic practice and formed a resilient cultural identity among enslaved and displaced people.
Religious Practice Fueled Resistance And Belonging
- Islam provided enslaved people in the Cape a shared identity and a covert network of resistance under colonial bans.
- Practices like melodic dhikr and secret madrasa gatherings sustained faith and community through Dutch rule and apartheid.