The Bo-Kaap is one of Cape Town’s most distinct neighbourhoods. Situated at the foot of Signal Hill, on the fringe of the city centre, and formerly known as the Malay Quarter, the Bo-Kaap’s origins date back to the 1760s when numerous “huurhuisjes” (rental houses) were built and leased to slaves. These people were known as Cape Malays, and were brought from Malaysia, Indonesia and the rest of Africa to work in the Cape.
To this day, the houses are a mix of Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture, in distinctive multi-coloured rows on steeply cobbled roads. The choice of colour is said to be attributed to the fact that while on lease, all the houses had to be white. When this rule was eventually lifted, and the slaves were allowed to buy the properties, all the houses were painted bright colours by their owners as an expression of their freedom.
This image of a couple of colourful contrasting houses on Wale Street, Bo-Kaap is currently on exhibition as part of the Art SA Exhibition in Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town. It's so nice to be part of a real life exhibition again!
To this day, the houses are a mix of Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture, in distinctive multi-coloured rows on steeply cobbled roads. The choice of colour is said to be attributed to the fact that while on lease, all the houses had to be white. When this rule was eventually lifted, and the slaves were allowed to buy the properties, all the houses were painted bright colours by their owners as an expression of their freedom.
This image of a couple of colourful contrasting houses on Wale Street, Bo-Kaap is currently on exhibition as part of the Art SA Exhibition in Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town. It's so nice to be part of a real life exhibition again!
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Visit my online gallery for more images of iconic buildings and places in and around Cape Town, botanical works and images of African animals and birds in both monochrome and colour.
All images are available as high quality prints on non-archival paper or on ready-to-hang stretched canvas.
Click here for prices.
Contact me:
by phone/whatsapp on +27 79 247 7532
by email to [email protected]
Visit my online gallery for more images of iconic buildings and places in and around Cape Town, botanical works and images of African animals and birds in both monochrome and colour.
All images are available as high quality prints on non-archival paper or on ready-to-hang stretched canvas.
Click here for prices.
Contact me:
by phone/whatsapp on +27 79 247 7532
by email to [email protected]
