Bringing light to a dark place, through art
JOBURG – Alexandra township is offering an art experience like no other! Visit township homes that have been turned into art galleries.
Alexandra township comes to the forefront of all things new and exciting, offering visitors a unique experience in Johannesburg.
From Origins coffee shop to the Neighbourgoods Market, it seems that Johannesburg and Cape Town are areas opening a world of opportunities for businesses in some of the most interesting and unassuming suburbs.
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Now, a new project finds itself anchored in Johannesburg and Cape Town, offering lovers of art and culture the opportunity to view some exceptional and locally produced works of art in galleries that have been made from homes in Alexandra.
This project called the Maboneng Township Art Experience, is not a product of the Maboneng Precinct manager’s innovative ideas to draw business into the area, but rather named as such because Maboneng means “place of light” and the project is hoping to bring light to an area that has often been associated with poverty and crime.
The guided tours take visitors from various pickup stations to the gallery homesteads in Alexandra – yes, that means that the galleries that are visited are in fact also homes in which families live, and these families will also be guiding visitors around their own homes.
The founder, Siphiwe Ngwenya, was born in Alexandra and found that the area – labelled a place of darkness – was in need of some light.
“There is no one home in any one township that you go into that you will find danger inside. The danger is outside.”
He continued, explaining that what he aims to do is to turn the townships with terrible reputations into towns because they’re tired of living the township life.
Some of the most exciting personalities to come from South Africa, including Nelson Mandela and Hugh Masekela, once lived in Alexandra.
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Nelson Mandela’s old homestead is one of the stops on the tour, which also offers tours to a number of other gallery homes and the chance for visitors to experience the lifestyle, as well as an optional music and art workshop.
This tour offers something for everyone.
Details: www.maboneng.com
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