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On the hills in and around Cape Town, you will find 300 year old Muslim graves belonging to notable individuals who arrived on the southern tip of the African continent in chains, as slaves or political prisoners of colonisers. They brought nothing with them, except faith in their hearts and the remembrance of God on their tongues.
This is the story of the beautiful melodic tones of Cape Town dhikr and why it has such a unique sound. Spanning centuries and continents, it is a story of imprisonment and enslavement, colonialism and resistance; of sufi tariqahs, scholars and princes. It is a story of hardship, courage and perseverance, but above all, of faith in God.
Written and hosted by Zara Choudhary
PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Mogamat Toffar | Explore The Cape Tours and Safaris | Email: toffar.safaris@gmail.com
- Shafiq Morton
- Ebrahim Rhoda
- Achmat Davids
FURTHER READING
- Shaykh Yusuf of Makassar by Shafiq Morton
- Cape Mazaar Society
- Islamic Dawah at the Cape during the Dutch and British Colonial Period 1652-1842 by Ebrahim Rhoda
- Guide to the Kramats of the Western Cape published by the Cape Mazaar Society
- The Afrikaans of the Cape Muslims by Achmat Davids
- ‘The Crescent at the Cape’ lecture by Shafiq Morton
A huge thanks to those at Masjid Khalil Rahman for allowing us to record the dhikr gathering.
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