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What language do Cape Malays speak?
The Cape Malay community are predominantly speakers of Afrikaans, with very few speakers of Malay languages left.
Where are Cape Malay people originally from?
Indonesia
OOriginally, the Cape Malay people came from Indonesia (at that time known as the Dutch East Indies), among other South East Asian countries, and they were transported here as slaves by the Dutch East India Company. These slaves were the first people in South Africa to introduce Islam as a religion.
What is Cape Malay tradition?
The Cape Malay cuisine is possibly the most authentic and deep-rooted culinary tradition you will find in Cape Town. Cape Malay dishes blend the spices and flavours brought by the slaves from South-East Asia with the recipes of the Dutch settlers.
Which country did the first slaves in South Africa come from?
Dutch rule The first slave, Abraham van Batavia arrived in 1653 (“van Batavia” meaning “from Batavia”, the name of Jakarta during the Dutch colonial period), and shortly afterward, a slaving voyage was undertaken from the Cape to Mauritius and Madagascar.
Why is it called Cape Malay?
They are a long standing people of South Africa who originally came as slaves, political prisoners or exiles from the Dutch East Indies and were brought from countries as spread out as India to Eastern Indonesia. They came to be called Cape Malays as they all spoke Malay, an important trading language at that time.
What do Cape Malay do?
Many of these people were skilled artisans, such as silversmiths, milliners, cobblers, singers, masons and tailors. This group came to be known collectively as the ‘Cape Malay,’ despite their diverse origins as far afield as East Africa and Malaysia.
What is the Malay culture?
Malay culture has been strongly influenced by the cultures of other areas, including Thailand, Java, and Sumatra. The Malays were largely Hinduized before they were converted to Islam in the 15th century. Many Malays are rural people, living in villages rather than towns.
What were the origins of the slaves who came to the Cape?
The majority of slaves, however, were brought to the Cape in small groups, or as individuals, aboard ships returning to Europe from the VOC trading posts in South and Southeast Asia. They were usually owned by ships’ officers or passengers who obtained them in Asia and then sold them at profit at the Cape.
What is Malay culture?
Why do Cape Coloureds have no teeth?
Though this may have some element of modern-day truth, most attribute the origins to the mid-17th century, when some slaves removed their own teeth as a way to take back control of their bodies; a way to undermine their slave bosses, who often used dental health to value individuals.