Gadija Green Adams
Gadija Green Adams was born on 9 September 1941 and lived at 3 Second Avenue, Claremont, her parents were Janap (Janie) Fredericks Green and Mogammad Jain Green. Mog Jain was from Faure. Jainap’s parents were Muneerah Mustapha Fredericks and Abubakar Fredericks(Tatta), they had two girls together, Jainap and Galima. Janap’s mother died when they were very young and they went to live with their mother’s youngest sister, Jainap Mustapha. When Jainap Mustapha married Mog. Salie Gasnodien, they had a readymade family with two children, Jainap and Galima. Jainap’s mother’s siblings all lived streets apart, so all the cousins were close and looked out for each other. Jainap was very close to her cousin, Mogammat Rashaad (Boeta Gamat Rashaad) Mustapha.
Jainap and Mog Jain Green had seven children: Muneerah, Nabuweyah, Noor, Abubakar, Salie, Galima, Gadija, Jawayier. Gadija attended DRC School on Durham Avenue, Rosmead Central and she finished Std 6 at Livingstone. Gadija attended madrassa with Amarien Stemmet and Iena Fakier, who lived in Stanley Road. Iena’s husband, Dol did tailoring alterations at Stuttafords. Gadija went to work immediately after Std 6, her father, Mog Jain didn’t always have work, he worked in construction. Jainap would sell koesisters, bollas and tart to bring in extra income, there was a time when she ironed for extra income. If Jain wasn’t working especially during winter; he would chop wood for the stove so Jainap could finish the koesisters to sell. Gadija learnt pattern grading and pattern making from Mrs Wilkinson and that became her skill.
Some of the neighbours in the street was Motchie Atie Boyce, Hatta Siera, Kulsum en Malaam Kamalie, the Benjamins, Carelse, Jacobs, Sis Tiema and Laaiman. The children played “drie blikkies” and other games. If you had any food, you would share it with your friends, even if it was just a slice of bread. Gadija would stand at the table while Jainap made sandwiches and steal another sandwich and put it behind her back, so she had more to share with her friends. When she came outside and her friends saw her with food, they would all run closer. It was a blessing to share her food, during winter there was a lot of fathers who didn’t have work. Jainap was a wonderful baker and she would bake biscuits for Moulood (celebration of Nabee Mogammad’s birth) and for gadats (prayer meetings). While Jainap was making barakata Gadija would steal biscuits for her friends, their mother’s couldn’t bake so they were so excited to get biscuits. Gadija would hide the biscuits under her clothing. Jainap did find out that Gadija was stealing biscuits and bread to share with her friends, but she wasn’t angry, she was happy that Gadija was sharing with those who had less. Jainap was the coordinator of the annual Komnees Mouloud and Rampies (celebration of the Nabee Mogammad’s birth). Jainap’s cousin, Abdol (K) Salie, who lived in Curry Street would share any contributions he received for Mouloud with Jainap to use for the Harvey Road Mosque Moulood. Abdol (K) Salie was Imam for a short while at Stegman Road Mosque, so he was part of the arranging the Mouloud at that mosque. The Mouloud would end at midnight, the community could “jikker” recite well and Jainap loved a good “jikker”.
Jainap baked the best bread and the children would fight about the korsie, crust. Gadija remembers that they would be sleeping and the smell of fresh baked bread would wake them, that is why all her siblings loved baked bread. Gadija’s brother, Abubakar (Ka) would cheat and he would cut a thick piece at the end of the loaf for himself.
Jainap’s sister, Galima (Limie) married Cassiem Gabriels and they lived in Durham Street. Jainap was a baker and her sister, Galima was a dressmaker, so Galima would sew clothing for Jainap’s children. Jainap and Galima’s maternal grandfather, Gamiet Mustapha was from top Claremont, his only son, Imam Amien (Bonds) learnt his trade as a tailor in “top” Claremont. Galima’s uncle, Imam Amien taught her the tricks of sewing and tailoring.
Mog Jain went to work with Jainap’s cousin, Mog Rashaad, he taught Mog Jain everything he knew about the building trade. Mog Rashaad always looked out for Jainap and her family. These cousins were close as children and maintained the closeness as adults. Mog Rashaad loved tea and biscuits and Jainap had a special box of biscuits in the cupboard for when he visited. If Jainap baked anything, her children would run over and deliver a barakat to Mog Rashaad. Gadija loved delivering to Mog Rashaad, he would give her an olap.
Mog Rashaad’s daughter, Salegga (Leggie) Mustapha was bridesmaid for Gadija. When Gadija and Abdullah went to hajj in 1992, three of Mog Rashaad’s daughters were with them, Aysa, Salegga and Gabiba. It pleased Jainap that their children were close, she said it reminded her how she and Mog Rashaad were as children. When they were younger Jainap helped Mog Rashaad, she would iron his clothes and help him in any way she could. So as adults, he would help her in turn. Jainap looked after Mog Rashaad’s first child, Mog Yusuf while his wife, Fatima went to work and when Yusuf cried for his mother, Jainap would breastfeed him. If Mog Rashaad worked on a site and he found something that would be of use to Jainap’s family, he would bring it to her. He would bring fruit, fish and sweets. Mog Rashaad was different person to others, he loved to share and he made time for people, whether Muslim or Christian, whether dark or light skinned. Gadija once saw her mother cry in their kitchen out of gratitude, times were tough and Mog Rashaad had put money in Jainap’s hand to buy food. She knew that if her father wasn’t working and Mog Rashaad came to visit, they would eat well that evening. Most evenings, on his way home from work, he would knock on the window to chat to Jainap before he went home to his family, he lived around the corner from Jainap.
Gadija still lived in Claremont when she married Abdullah (Dol) Adams in 1965, he was 29 and she was 24. Abdullah was also from Claremont, he lived in Durham Street. Gadija and Abdullah have seven children: Zulfa, Zaheer, Shamiel, Yazeed, Anwaar, Ridha. The first three was born on the same date, 3 September. Gadija remembers that she went to Moosa Chowa’s 21st birthday and Abdullah wanted to walk her home. She won’t forget there was a little shop on the corner of Durham street, that is where he kissed her for the first time. Abdullah would bring Gadija, sweets and fruit as gifts from Manie Baba’ shop. She fell in love with him because he was such a kind hearted person.
Abdullah (Dol) Adams was born on 17 August 1936, his parents were Galima and Ganief Adams who lived in Durham Street. Abdullah has six siblings: Yusuf, Gawa, Mina, Janap, Gadija and Fatima. Abdullah went to school opposite his home in Durham Street, he would jump out of bed and run to school at the last minute. After he attended Rosmead Central for two years. Abdullah’s mother died and he remained living in the same house with his grandmother. The neighbours were Albertus, Battas, Cities, Gabriels (Gadija’s aunt) and Cassiem Jacobs. There was black people living in Durham Street, Rutland Street and in the square. Abdullah played rugby for Canadians and cricket for Green Roses. Abdullah’s father sent him to learn tailoring and the train ticket to Cape Town cost 25c per week. A family friend got Abdullah a job at GJ Smith in Lansdowne Road Claremont, completing alterations. The shop moved to Athlone and Abdullah moved with them. The business was sold when the owner died. Abdullah went to work for Cohens in Wynberg for 15yrs until he retired.
When they were forced to move due to apartheid. Jainap’s cousin, Mog Rashaad helped them find another place to live. They moved to Wynberg, next to the railway station and the Wynberg Town Hall. Later, Gadija’s brother Salie started working and they could afford to buy a house in Grassy Park. Gadija and Abdullah lived in Church Street Athlone on a room in Abdullah’s aunt’s house. A house came up for sale in the next street and they bought it.
After the forced removals, the sisters Jainap and Galima continued to arrange the annual Moulood. It kept the Harvey Road Mosque congregants together, they knew on Mouloud they would meet neighbours and family in the mosque. After Jainap and Galima died, their daughters took over the arrangements for Mouloud.