Historic Grace Street mosque presses for heritage status
Masjid-ul-akbar flags important role played by Muslim community in development of city
Nelson Mandela Bay’s Muslim community is calling for heritage status to be granted to Masjid-ul-akbar, Gqeberha’s oldest mosque.
Built in 1855, the tiny building is situated in Grace Street near the harbour.
Sandwiched between health department offices and a parkade, it has a fascinating history that includes a Javanese prince, a freed slave and a bosun’s chair.
Just off the shabby inner-city street, past the antechamber where congregants remove their shoes, the mosque’s sumptuous wall-to-wall carpet is inlaid with panels all pointing east to allow worshippers to face Mecca when they pray.
Every second panel is marked to ensure people abide by Covid-19 distancing regulations.
Speaking to The Herald in the peaceful gloom, the 12th head priest of the mosque, Imam Berhardien Jappie, 75, who has held the position for nearly 50 years, explained his deep attachment to the building.
“This is my ancestral place. I spend time here every day and have ever since I was 27 years old, when I took over as imam from my elderly father, Fuad.
“My links to Masjid-ul-akbar go back to the beginning.
“Today, there are 25 mosques in Nelson Mandela Bay but this was the first in Port Elizabeth [Gqeberha] and the second in the Eastern Cape.”
Behardien said the story began when in 1652, Jan van Riebeeck arrived in Cape Town.
His party included slaves from Holland’s Southeast Asia colonies, political exiles and members of the Javanese royal family including Emaam Jabaar-u-din, grandson of Sultan Nabier, ruler of Macassar.
“In 1806, 89 Muslim freed slaves and their families left Cape Town to settle in Uitenhage [Kariega].
“They included artisans and tradesmen — tailors, masons, master builders, cooks, boatbuilders and fishermen.”
He said within this group was Fortuin Weys, who was to become a central character in the ensuing story of Masjid-ul-akbar and Port Elizabeth.
“Weys had performed with distinction as a soldier for the Javanese Artillery Corps that fought on the side of the Dutch Batavian Republic in the Battle of Blaauwberg in Cape Town in 1806.”
The British won the battle, marking a turning point in the history of SA although no one knew it at the time.
But Weys, having hung up his rifle, was allowed to go on his way.
Masjid ul-akbar ’ s spokesperson, Luxolo Kanti, said the Bay Muslim community was calling for Masjid-ul-akbar’s historic significance to be fully recognised by the authorities.
“We are calling for this mosque to be granted heritage status because it is an unrecognised jewel of our city.
“It would be excellent for tourism because its story is crying out to be told.”
He said he was trying to organise a meeting with the Bay tourism authorities about the bosun’s chair.
Gqeberha heritage tourism guide Lyn Haller said the trust agreed with Kanti.