Palm Tree Mosque

Palm Tree Mosque stands on Long Street in Cape Town, South Africa, as a mosque and architectural landmark. Its Cape Georgian vernacular form values simplicity and function. The building began as a residence and remains Long Street’s oldest substantially unaltered structure. Low sash windows and a shortened door reflect the street’s gradual rise, rather than deliberate design.

Freed slaves Jan van Bougies and Frans van Bengalen bought the property in 1807. Jan van Bougies became its sole owner in 1811. He and Frans, with followers who left Auwal Mosque, established a separate place of worship here. After Jan’s death in 1846, Samida of the Cape inherited the property while its mosque function continued. Builders likely added the second storey between 1811 and 1821.

The mosque is Cape Town’s second oldest, linking Islamic faith with freed slaves’ contributions to city life. A front garden once held two palm trees beside the building. One original palm remains, while another planted in 1965 replaced a tree lost in a storm.