In earlier days, all the houses of Cape Town were painted white. The colours of the Bo-Kaap houses are partly linked to Ramadan and the celebration of Eid. Muslim people in the Bo-Kaap would paint their houses in preparation for the celebration of Eid, while Christian people would not, he says.

Where are the Coloured houses in Cape Town?

Bo-Kaap is a historic Cape Town neighbourhood characterized by brightly painted houses and a unique local culture. Most easily accessed on foot, follow Wale Street in the direction of Signal Hill, to the narrow cobbled streets and brightly painted Cape Dutch-infused Edwardian style houses.

Why is Bo-Kaap so Colourful?

So why are the buildings so colourful? It is unclear, but it is believed that when Bo-Kaap residents bought their houses, they decorated their homes with bright colours, as an expression of individualism. After apartheid ended, they painted their houses in bright colours as a celebration of their freedom.

Which Cape Town Neighbourhood is famous for its Colourful houses?

Bo-Kaap is known for its brightly coloured homes and cobble stoned streets. The area is traditionally a multicultural neighbourhood, and 56.9% of its population identify as Muslim.

Why was Bo-Kaap built?

THE BO KAAP IS HOME TO THE COUNTRYS OLDEST MOSQUE However, Muslims were only allowed to practice their religion in public from 1804. The mosque was built on land belonging to a freed slave called Coridon van Ceylon, whose daughter, Saartjie van den Caap, inherited and donated the land.

Is Bo-Kaap safe?

Unlike some of Cape Towns poorer areas, Bo-Kaap is safe to visit independently. Its a five-minute walk from the city center, and a 10-minute drive from the V&A Waterfront (the citys main tourist area).

What is District 6 South Africa?

Cape Town District Six (Afrikaans Distrik Ses) is a former inner-city residential area in Cape Town, South Africa. Over 60,000 of its inhabitants were forcibly removed during the 1970s by the apartheid regime.

What is the history of Bo-Kaap?

Situated at the foot of Signal Hill, on the fringe of the city centre, and formerly known as the Malay Quarter, the Bo-Kaaps origins date back to the 1760s when numerous “huurhuisjes” (rental houses) were built and leased to slaves.

Is Bo-Kaap a safe area?

Unlike some of Cape Towns poorer areas, Bo-Kaap is safe to visit independently. Its a five-minute walk from the city center, and a 10-minute drive from the V&A Waterfront (the citys main tourist area). The easiest way to find yourself at the heart of Bo-Kaap is to walk along Wale Street to the Bo-Kaap Museum.

Who lives in Bo-Kaap?

Bo-Kaap is now home to over 6 000 people, the majority of whom are Muslim. DID YOU KNOW that there are at least nine mosques in the Bo-Kaap, including the Auwal Mosque, the oldest mosque in South Africa, built in 1794? Tradition is entrenched within the Bo-Kaap community.

What is District 6 like now?

Today it is an almost vacant lot, shown on maps as the suburb of Zonnebloem. Before being torn apart by the apartheid regime during the sixties and seventies, District Six, was an impoverished but lively community of 55 000, predominantly coloured people.

Is District 6 a settlement?

They deemed District Six a slum, fit only for clearance, not rehabilitation. On 11 February 1966, the government declared District Six a whites-only area under the Group Areas Act, with removals starting in 1968. About 30,000 people living in the specific group area were affected.

Why is District 6 famous?

The District Six Museum Foundation was only established in 1989, and the museum itself came into being in 1994. Currently, the museum serves as a remembrance of the once lively multi-racial area that was forcefully removed during apartheid in the 1960s and 1970s.

How many billionaires live in Capetown?

Cape Town is the second wealthiest city on the continent and home to 6 500 dollar millionaires and one dollar billionaire.

What was District 6 life like?

Before being torn apart by the apartheid regime during the sixties and seventies, District Six, was an impoverished but lively community of 55 000, predominantly coloured people. It was once known as the soul of Cape Town, this inner-city area harboured a rich cultural life in its narrow alleys and crowded tenements.