In the heart of the vibrant and colourful Cape Town suburb, the Bo-Kaap, stands the Auwal Masjid, also known as the First Mosque. As the first and oldest mosque in South Africa it carries a lot of history and depth of meaning to all Muslims in South Africa, but especially the Cape Malay Muslims.

At first, in the late 1700s, Cape Malay Muslims had to hold prayers in a warehouse or a disused quarry in Chiappini Street in Cape Town. They were led by Imam Abdullah Kadi Abdus Salaam, also known as Tuan Guru or Mister Teacher. Born in 1712, he was a Prince from Tidore in the Indonesian Ternate Islands. He was brought to the Cape in 1780 as a prisoner for conspiring with the English in the East against the Dutch. He served thirteen years on Robben Island.

When he was released, he founded a madrasah in the warehouse attached to the home of Coridon of Ceylon in Dorp Street where he lived. In 1795, the British gained control of the Cape for the first time, and the British Governor, General Craig, was more favourably disposed towards the Muslims, granting permission to build a mosque. The warehouse was converted over time into the Auwal Masjid. It became a symbol for the fight for recognition and religious freedom for Muslims in the Cape. Still in practice today, the mosque hosts weekly Thikr, Islamic series and Women's Monday evening classes.