Auwal Mosque Mosque

Address: Bo-Kaap / Wale Street area, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

The Auwal Mosque is a mosque in the Bo-Kaap area of Cape Town, South Africa and is recognised as the oldest mosque in the country. It holds a central place in the religious and cultural history of Cape Town’s Muslim community.

The mosque contains prayer space for the local congregation and is visited for worship and community activities. It also attracts interest for its historic significance and ties to early Muslim leaders in the Cape.

The mosque was established in the late 18th century and became an important institution for freed and enslaved Muslim communities under early Cape colonial society. Its role has continued through successive generations as a centre of Islamic practice in Cape Town.

Located in the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood of Cape Town, the mosque sits on the slopes above the city near the central peninsula. It is within walking distance of central Cape Town landmarks and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront area.

• Historical significance: Recognised as the oldest mosque in South Africa and a central site for Cape Malay Islamic heritage.

Auwal Mosque is in the Bo‑Kaap neighbourhood near Wale Street in Cape Town. It is a short walk from the Company’s Garden and within easy reach of central Cape Town by taxi or by walking from the city centre.

• Ask permission before photographing worshippers inside - the mosque remains a place of prayer as well as a historical site.
• Visit adjacent to the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood to combine the mosque visit with a walk through old Cape Malay streets and markets.