Cape Town is home to many vibrant attractions, but none of them compares to Bo-Kaap. It’s one of the most colorful neighborhoods in the world, and you’ll appreciate it even more once you learn the amazing backstory behind its radiant walls.
This part of Cape Town was formerly known as the Malay Quarter because the homes in this area were leased to slaves, many of whom were imported from Malaysia. That changed in 1834 when slavery abolition act came to power in this country, and Bo-Kaap was completely transformed in the decades to come.
The homes in this neighborhood were painted white while on a lease, but new homeowners decided to change that. After being set free, many went on to buy their own homes and re-painted them in vibrant colors as an expression of freedom and liberation.
Bo-Kaap is now known for its multi-colored homes and picturesque cobbled streets, and it was named as one of South Africa’s National Heritage Sites in 2019. It’s one of the city’s most popular attractions, and you’ll enjoy it even more now that you know how it became so colorful.