Bartolomeu Dias Museum

Malay Graves

Malay Graves

The Islamic faith has been present at the Cape since soon after its colonization by the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The VOC had colonized the majority of the Indonesian Islands and established its trade capital in Batavia (now Djakarta). From here it ruled the Dutch spice trade during the 17th and 18th centuries.
 
This chartered company established military outposts and trading posts – including the Cape – in numerous areas in Asia and Africa to protect their extremely lucrative spice trade. Politically and spiritually prominent leaders led the local people in fierce resistance against the Dutch in Indonesia, India, Ceylon, Sumatra, Macassar, and Timor to name some. This led to Muslim political prisoners being regularly banished to the Cape for their resistance to Dutch rule during the 17th and 18th centuries. Also, because they were considered a serious threat to the interests of the VOC.

Others practising Islam were brought to the Cape as enslaved labourers and forced to work for the VOC or settlers. Over time many people of colour would become Muslim as opposed to the Christian religion of the Dutch. Despite Islam having to be practised in secret until 1804 when religious freedom was finally permitted at the Cape, local Muslims were able to create communities around their traditions and customs from their countries of origins, and later their mosques and madrasas.

After the practice of Islam became legal at the Cape, international Muslim scholars and Imams would travel here more regularly.

According to an old title deed of the premises, the Mossel Bay Muslim community was granted a property measuring 69 square roods and 48 square feet in 1864 to use as their cemetery.

These two Muslim graves, uncovered in 1926, are believed to be that of Muslim Saints (Sheikh Abdurahman Sayed Al Mujahedeen) who died in Mossel Bay on route to Batavia (present-day Jakarta) around 1864. 

*Please be respectful at all times while visiting this site.

Sources:
Mossel Bay Muslim community
Western Cape, MOSSEL BAY, Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex, Unknown Muslim grave
The GGSA Cemetery DVD only has information on the location of the cemetery. Cemetery ID: 3947
Google Earth Project Information: –
GPSID: 4685  GPS: -34 10.772, 22 8.316
https://www.graves-at-eggsa.org/main.php?g2_itemId=1200074 (accessed on 30 July 2021)