Glossary

Adhan The Muslim call to prayer.

Akni Akni is a spicy, curry-based rice dish that contains meat – lamb, chicken or mutton – with flavours resembling that of a biryani.

Barakat An Arabic word meaning blessings, but in the Cape Malay sense it usually refers to a parcel containing scrumptious delicacies.

Boekah Cape Malay term for iftar, i.e. the evening meal, when Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. Also known in Indonesia as boekah pwasa.

Cape Minstrels An annual minstrel festival that takes place in Cape Town on 2 January; also referred to as the Kaapse Klopse.

Du’a Derived from the Arabic word meaning to ‘call out’ or to ‘summon’, usually to God; Muslims regard this as a profound act of worship.

Eid-al-Fitr Literally means ‘festival of the breaking of the fast’ and is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Eid-ul-Adha Literally means ‘festival of sacrifice’. It is the second of two main religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year. It honours the willingness of the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son, Ishmael (Ismail), as an act of submission to God’s command, before God then intervened, through His angel Gabriel and informs him that his sacrifice has already been accepted. It is also linked to the conclusion of the Haj (the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca).

Fez A flat-topped conical red hat with a black tassel on top, worn by Cape Malay men in the past.

Hadji A Muslim who has performed his/her pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Haj The Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, which takes place in the last month of the Islamic year and which all Muslims are expected to make at least once during their lifetime if they can afford to do so. It is one of the five tenets/pillars of the Islamic faith.

Hollandse liedjies Directly translated as ‘Dutch songs’, sung and performed by the Cape Malay choirs. The songs depict the history and stories of the Cape Malay ancestors, including the sea shanties sung during the long voyages from the East. The repertoire consists mainly of songs from weddings, special ceremonies, informal occasions and picnics, and from the celebration of the tweede nuwe jaar, the second new year. Choirs often sing without instrumental accompaniment.

Imaam The officiating priest of a mosque.

Koekies Afrikaans translation for ‘little cakes’ – a term mostly used during Ramadan for the treats made, shared with neighbours and consumed at iftar.

Koesister The word ‘koesister’ derives from the Dutch word koekje, which translates to ‘cookie’. There are two popular versions of this South African syrup-coated doughnut: an Afrikaner version – called a koeksister – which is a twisted or braided shape (like a plait), and a Cape Malay version – the koesister – which is a spicy treat finished off with a sprinkling of coconut.

Kramat A holy burial shrine erected to honour notable Imaams from early Bo-Kaap history.

Madrasa Arabic word for any educational institution, whether secular or religious (of any religion).

Maghrib The Maghrib prayer (or evening prayer) is done just after sunset and is the fourth of five daily obligatory prayers performed by Muslims.

Medora Headgear typically worn by a bride on her wedding day.

Nikah The legal contract between a bride and groom as part of an Islamic marriage.

Ouma Afrikaans translation of ‘grandmother’.

Ramadan The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which strict fasting is observed from dawn to sunset across the globe by practicing Muslims.

Rampisny The festival is known by its Afrikaans term, rampi-sny, which translates as ‘cutting rampis’. Rampi is a Malay term which means ‘mixture’. Commonly, orange leaves are cut into strips, drizzled with sweet-smelling oils and allowed to dry. Thereafter small quantities of the perfumed leaves are placed in pouches and shared among the congregation at the mosque.

Rys Afrikaans translation of ‘rice’.

Suhoor An Arabic term referring to the meal consumed early in the morning by Muslims before starting the daily fast.

Vleis Afrikaans translation of ‘meat’.