His name might not be as widely known as other historical figures often appearing in class textbooks. But in Cape Town, South Africa, the Makassar cleric is remembered because the founding father of the primary Muslim community and because the inspiration for some of the influential leaders of the twentieth century, Nelson Mandela.
This is Syekh Yusuf Al-Makassari. Born in Gowa, Makassar on July 3, 1626, his original name was Muhammad Yusuf. His full name later became Syekh Yusuf Abul Mahasin Tajul Khalwati Al-Makasari Al-Bantani – a series of titles reflecting the long journey of a person who never stopped moving.
A journey seeking knowledge
Syekh Yusuf spent his early years studying under various teachers. He first learned the Quran from Daeng ri Tamassang, then continued his education on the Bontoala Islamic boarding school, where he deepened his knowledge of Arabic grammar (nope AND honor), logic (logic) and rhetoric (eloquent).
His subsequent journey took him to Pesantren Cikoang, where he met Syekh Jalaluddin Aidid, who opened the technique to Mecca for him.
On September 22, 1644, Syekh Yusuf set out on a passenger ship. The journey took years as a consequence of quite a few stopovers – Banten, Aceh, Yemen, Mecca, Medina, the Levant and Türkiye.
In Aceh he studied for a full five years under Syekh Muhammad Jailani, leader of the Qadiriyya order. In Mecca, he eventually taught students from the Malay-Indonesian archipelago, especially the Bugis pilgrims.
The visit Banten was one other key moment: there he first met Abdul Fattah, son of the Sultan of Banten, later generally known as Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. This friendship significantly shaped the course of his life.
Exiled to Banten after the war
After returning to Indonesia, Syekh Yusuf settled in Banten on the request of Sultan Ageng Tirtayas. There, he not only taught Islamic sciences, but additionally spread anti-colonial values as a type of resistance against Dutch rule.
His biggest test got here when conflict broke out between Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa and his own son, Sultan Haji, who was influenced by the Dutch. Syekh Yusuf openly sided with Sultan Ageng and have become directly involved within the war.
The fight ended together with his capture on December 14, 1683. He was imprisoned in Batavia for a yr, after which in 1684 he and his followers were exiled to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
Even in Sri Lanka, Syekh Yusuf didn’t remain idle. He continued to spread Islamic teachings and accomplished his work Kafiyyat al-Tasawwufand maintained resistance communication networks through passing pilgrims.
However, his activities were discovered by the Dutch. As a result, in 1693 he was exiled again – this time to an excellent more distant place: South Africa.
The birth of the Cape Town Muslims
On April 2, 1694, Syekh Yusuf arrived in Cape Town. He didn’t arrive a free man, but was well received by the local governor – an intriguing irony for a political prisoner. It was here that an important chapter in his life began.
Together with Imam Abdullah Ibnu Kudi Abdus Salam and his followers, Syekh Yusuf taught Islamic and humanitarian values to the local population – mainly staff and prisoners of war brought by the Dutch to construct colonial settlements. These teachings became the premise of the primary Muslim community in South Africa.
He held this position for six years until his death in Cape Town on May 23, 1699, on the age of 72. At the request of Sultan Abdul Jalil, his stays were later transported to Indonesia and buried in Lakiung, Makassar in 1705.
“One of Africa’s Greatest Sons”: A Legacy Beyond Continents
More than two centuries after his death, Syekh Yusuf’s name resurfaced due to some of the influential figures in modern history, Nelson Mandela. The former president of South Africa and icon of the anti-apartheid struggle openly recognized Syekh Yusuf as a source of inspiration in defending the values of freedom and equality.
Mandela even gave it the title: “One of Africa’s biggest sons.” For Mandela, Syekh Yusuf was a robust example that resistance to oppression may be waged through education, faith and unwavering conviction – even in exile.
This recognition was not merely symbolic. South Africa officially named Syekh Yusuf a national hero in 2009. Indonesia had awarded him the title of National Hero earlier in 1995 through President Soeharto.
Now, 400 years after his birth, his name is once more gaining recognition around the globe. The 2025 UNESCO General Conference officially approved Indonesia’s proposal to incorporate the four-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Syekh Yusuf Al-Makassari within the UNESCO anniversary program, which shall be commemorated in 2026.
The Indonesian government can be preparing to nominate eight works by Syekh Yusuf for inclusion in UNESCO’s Memory of the World program. Another initiative currently underway is the development of the Syekh Yusuf Museum in Cape Town, South Africa, positioned directly opposite his burial site.
It is planned that the museum’s architecture will mix elements of Makassar and African culture, symbolizing the life journey of a scholar who never belonged to at least one place.
