Abstract
The present paper deals with a small corpus of seven funerary inscriptions in Arabic and in mixed Arabic/Malay found in the Tana Baru Islamic cemetery in Cape Town. The article contains a description of the gravestones, as well as a translation and critical analysis of the text of the epitaphs. The items are studied from both a linguistic and a historical perspective with the aim of improving our knowledge of Islamic epigraphy in South Africa. At the same time, the inscriptions offer new information on the prosopography of the Muslim community of the Western Cape region, information which, it is hoped, will trigger further research on Islamic culture and history in South Africa.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Arts and Crafts of Literacy. : Islamic Manuscript Cultures in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Editors | Andrea Brigaglia, Mauro Nobili |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Volume | Studies in Manuscript Cultures 12 |
| Publisher | De Gruyter |
| Publication date | 11 Sept 2017 |
| Pages | 313-330 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9783110541441 |
| Publication status | Published - 11 Sept 2017 |