Faldela Williams (1952 – 25 May 2014) was a South African cook and cookbook writer whose books inspired generations of cooks after her to preserve the culinary heritage of South Africa's Cape Malay people.[opinion]
Faldela Williams | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Faldela Adams 1952 District Six, Cape Town, South Africa |
| Died | 25 May 2014 Cape Town, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Occupation(s) | cook, cookbook writer |
| Notable work | The Cape Malay Cookbook |
Biography edit
Faldela Adams[1] was born in 1952[2] on Pontac Street, in District Six, of Cape Town, South Africa[3] and attended Rahmaniyah Primary School.[4] She was trained to cook by her grandmother, a respected[peacock prose] caterer, in the Sixth Municipal District of Cape Town and after she understood the basics, began to help in preparing food.[5] Around 1975, Adams married Ebrahim Williams and subsequently, the couple had three children: Riefqah, Aisha and Saadiq.[6]
Career edit
Williams opened her own wedding catering service[5] and became a known expert on the cooking of Cape Malay, publishing three cookbooks on the cuisine.[6] In 1988, she published The Cape Malay Cookbook, which has become a staple reference for cooks throughout South Africa and is known internationally.[2][5] The book has also been seen by academics as an important work for writing the cultural contributions of Muslim descendants of Malaysian slaves back into the broader South African heritage.[7][8] The book gave a comprehensive selection of recipes in an easy to prepare format with a guide to frequently used spices and seasonings.[9] It was successfully printed in both English and Afrikaans.[10]
Until Williams published The Cape Malay Cookbook, few recipe books had been used or printed. Use of recipes typically was held in low esteem, because local cooks judged that it demonstrated a lack of cooking skill. While a recent development, other cookbooks followed and the publication brought forth a generation of younger cooks who wished to preserve their dishes and cooking traditions. The cookbooks were also a "groundbreaking" means of allowing Malay women, who had previously been portrayed as silent domestic workers, to speak for themselves.[8]
William's second cookbook, More Cape Malay Cooking was a follow-up book to the original publication.[11] Recipes were given with clear and simple instructions, featuring the spices that add distinction to Cape Malay cuisine.[10] As with her first book, it became a go-to guide for both those just learning to cook and more experienced cooks, who enjoyed Cape Malay-style food.[11] Her last book, The Cape Malay Illustrated Cookbook (2007) simplified traditional recipes to make them more practical and easier to prepare.[12]
Around 2009, Williams and her son, Saadiq, opened a restaurant in her neighborhood, which bore her name.[10] She was also featured in many articles published by the Cape Argus as an expert on food, cooking for religious holidays and on modifying dishes to reflect more health conscious trends.[5] Williams was an executive committee representative of her mosque in Cape Town's Claremont suburb.[6]
Death and legacy edit
Williams died on 25 May 2014 after having had a heart attack six weeks prior.[6] Williams cookbooks have gone into several subsequent editions. She was one of the featured women in a presentation at the Bo-Kaap Museum on the contributions of Muslim women to South African heritage.[12] Upon her death, Yusuf Larney owner of Bo-Kaap Kombuis Malay Restaurant, paid tribute to her in a program broadcast on Primedia Broadcasting.[13]
Works edit
- Williams, Faldela (1988). Cape Malay Cookbook. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik Publishers. ISBN 978-1-86825-560-3.[permanent dead link]
- Williams, Faldela (1988). Kaapse Maleier-kookkuns (in Afrikaans). Cape Town, South Africa: Struik Publishers. ISBN 978-0-869-77728-2.
- Williams, Faldela; Espi, Juan (photographer); Saddington, Marianne (illustrator) (1991). More Cape Malay Cooking. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik Timmins. ISBN 978-0-869-78538-6.
- Williams, Faldela; Mills, Liz (illustrator) (2007). The Cape Malay Illustrated Cookbook. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik Publications. ISBN 978-1-770-07405-7.
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ Williams 1988.
- ^ a b de Klerk 2014.
- ^ Namibiana Buchdepot, 2011 & German.
- ^ Living Islam 2009.
- ^ a b c d Lewis 2014.
- ^ a b c d Jackman 2014.
- ^ Haron 2015, pp. 236–237.
- ^ a b Ang 2015, p. 11.
- ^ Namibiana Buchdepot, 2011 & English.
- ^ a b c Independent Online 2009.
- ^ a b Emeran 2014.
- ^ a b Bo-Kaap Museum 2016.
- ^ Maytham 2014.
Biography edit
- Ang, Allyson (Fall 2015). Exploring Cape Malay Identity Through the Lens of Food (Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection). Brattleboro, Vermont: SIT Graduate Institute. Paper #2158. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- de Klerk, Nielen (29 May 2014). "Bekende in SA koswêreld sterf in Kaapstad" [Noted South African of the food world dies in Cape Town] (in Afrikaans). Cape Town, South Africa: Netwerk 24. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- Emeran, Aneeqah (28 May 2014). "A tribute to Faldela Williams". Cape Town, South Africa: Food 24. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- Haron, Muhammed (2015). "Review essay Making South Africa's Muslims creatively visible" (PDF). Tydskrif vir Letterkunde. 52 (1). Pretoria, South Africa: Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Association by the University of Pretoria: 231–243. doi:10.4314/tvl.v52i1.21. ISSN 0041-476X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- Jackman, Rebecca (28 May 2014). "Cape Malay Cooking Guru Faldela Williams Dies at 62". Cape Town, South Africa: Cape Times (IOL).
- Lewis, Esther (27 May 2014). "Faldela Williams lives on in cookbook". Johannesburg, South Africa: IOL. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- Maytham, John (May 2014). "Yusuf Larney On The Passing Of Cape Town Cook & Author Faldela Williams". Johannesburg, South Africa: Primedia Broadcasting. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- Williams, Faldela (1988). Kaapse Maleier-kookkuns (in Afrikaans). Cape Town, South Africa: Struik Publishers. ISBN 978-0-869-77728-2.
- "The Cape Malay Cookbook, by Faldela Williams". Namibiana Buchdepot. Delmenhorst, Germany. 15 September 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- "Faldela Williams". Namibiana Buchdepot (in German). Delmenhorst, Germany. 15 September 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- "Getting to the roots of our tasty culinary heritage". Johannesburg, South Africa: IOL. 11 May 2009. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- "The History of Muslim Primary Schools at the Cape". Living Islam. South Africa: Boorhaanol Islam Movement. 26 August 2009. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- "Out And About Muslim Women". Iziko Museums of Cape Town. Cape Town, South Africa: Bo-Kaap Museum. 2016. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
