Bo-Kaap

Bo-Kaap
Bo-Kaap, Cape Town
Bo-Kaap  Bo-Kaap shown within Western Cape
Location within Cape Town  Bo-Kaap
Coordinates: 33°55′15″S 18°24′55″E / 33.92083°S 18.41528°E / -33.92083; 18.41528Coordinates: 33°55′15″S 18°24′55″E / 33.92083°S 18.41528°E / -33.92083; 18.41528
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
Municipality	City of Cape Town
Established	1978
Postal code (street)	8001
Area code	+27 (0)21

The Bo-Kaap is an area of Cape Town, South Africa formerly known as the Malay Quarter. It is quintessentially a Township, situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above the city centre and is an historical centre of Cape Malay culture in Cape Town. The Nurul Islam Mosque, established in 1844, is located in the area.

Bo-Kaap is traditionally a multicultural area. The area is known for its brightly coloured homes and cobble stoned streets.

Bo-Kaap primary colours

Bo-Kaap Museum

The museum, which dates back to the 1760s, is the oldest house in the area still in its original form, and well worth a visit. It highlights the cultural contribution made by early Muslim settlers, many of whom were skilled tailors, carpenters, shoe makers and builders. It contains 19th century furnishings which include a fine Cape drop-leaf dining table, Cape Regency-style chairs and a bridal chamber decorated to match the bride's dress.

The museum is distinguishable by its voorstoep—a type of front terrace with a bench at each end emphasizing the polarizing aspect of Cape Muslim culture.

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  Bo-Kaap Iziko Museum

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  Bo-Kaap British Style houses

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  Behind the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum

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  Oldest Mosque in Cape Town: Auwal Mosque in the Bo-Kaap

Chiappini street houses

Gentrification

As a result of Cape Town's economic development and expansion, and after the demise of forced racial segregation under apartheid, property in the Bo-Kaap has become very sought after, not only for its location but also for its picturesque cobble-streets and unique architecture.^[1] Increasingly, this close-knit community is "facing a slow dissolution of its distinctive character as wealthy outsiders move into the suburb to snap up homes in the City Bowl at cut-rate prices".^[2] Inter-community conflict has also arisen as some residents object to the sale of buildings and the resultant eviction of long-term residents.

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  Daily scene in the Bo-Kaap

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  The view of Signal Hill from Bo-Kaap

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bo-Kaap.

• Bo-Kaap Museum
• Bo-Kaap Attractions
• Bo-Kaap Website

Communities of City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, Western Cape Seat: Cape Town Cape Flats Athlone Crawford Gugulethu Hanover Park Heideveld Joe Slovo Kenwyn Lansdowne Manenberg Nyanga Ottery Philippi Rondebosch East Strandfontein Helderberg Faure Gordon's Bay Macassar Sir Lowry's Pass Village Somerset West Strand Mitchells Plain Khayelitsha Blue Downs Crossroads Eerste River Khayelitsha Kuils River Mfuleni Mitchell's Plain QQ Section Northern Brackenfell Durbanville Fisantekraal Kensington Kraaifontein Panorama Philadelphia Wallacedene South Peninsula Bergvliet Bishopscourt Capri Village Claremont Clovelly Constantia Da Gama Park Diep River Fish Hoek Glencairn Grassy Park Harfield Village Heathfield Hout Bay Imizamo Yethu Kalk Bay Kenilworth Kommetjie Llandudno Lotus River Masiphumelele Meadowridge Mowbray Muizenberg Newlands Noordhoek Ocean View Plumstead Retreat Rondebosch Rosebank Scarborough Simon's Town St James Southern Suburbs Steenberg Tokai Wynberg Table Bay Bakoven Bantry Bay Bo-Kaap Camps Bay Cape Town Clifton De Waterkant Devil's Peak Estate District Six Epping Foreshore Fresnaye Gardens Goodwood Green Point Higgovale Langa Maitland Mouille Point Ndabeni Nomzamo Observatory Oranjezicht Pinelands Robben Island Salt River Schotsche Kloof Sea Point Tamboerskloof Thornton Three Anchor Bay University Estate Vredehoek Walmer Estate Woodstock Zonnebloem Tygerberg Belhar Bellville Bishop Lavis Blikkiesdorp Bonteheuwel Bothasig Delft Edgemead Elsie's River Monte Vista Norwood Parow Tygerberg Blaauwberg Atlantis Bloubergstrand Century City Dunoon Joe Slovo Park Mamre Melkbosstrand Milnerton Parklands Table View