define: Cape Malay

When you google the term Cape Malay, there are a handful of sites that pop up about the origin of this cultural group in SA, taking us back to colonization and slave trade in 1650-something, a bit about food and flower-sellers, the minstrels and Bo-Kaap!

Is this really all we mean to the world? Is our claim-to-fame really painting our faces with shoe polish and performing in the streets of Cape Town on New Year's day? Does the rest of the world really believe that we all fit into the small suburb of Bo-Kaap? And if not, do they think they can drive through the Cape Flats and look out for smartie-coloured houses and spot the Cape Malays??? And is Bobotie really what our cuisine is best known for?

Don't get me wrong - I understand that these things are indeed a part of our heritage, but it is definitely not all we have to offer the world! I mean what about the finer details? The delicate blend of spices that go into a smooth Cape Malay curry or the skill (and patience) it takes to brown your meat just right when making a delicious veggie bredie! The fact that we network like no other cultural group in the world - we all have an uncle or cousin who can do whatever it is we need! Our homes stretch far beyond the Cape Flats these days - that may be where they wanted us to stay, but we sure showed them that we would take the Cape Flats and beyond! The Cape Malays are the warmest, most welcoming group of people you'll find. We love to chat and share our stories. We welcome people into our homes with a "Come Biesmillah, the food is on the table!" and allow them to leave hours later with a barakat (left-overs)! We rally together when someone is getting married or going on Hajj, chipping in to feed the hoards of well-wishers and making sure that the "behangsels" are top notch, because that's how we were raised. We visit the elderly and the sick and take them food and medical supplies like "als" from our mothers' garden!

Hmmm, so now I am left wondering why the image of my people is so marginalized. Maybe it's our fault? Are we doing enough to show the world who we are? Are we still proud of being Cape Malay? Do we even still know what it means? Well, I am on a mission to preserve and re-define our culture! I invite my fellow Cape Malay sisters and brothers to join me! Help me remember - at does it mean to be a "vollende", original, genuine Cape Malay?