The Maboneng Township Arts Experience in Gugulethu, CT

The township has such a strong pulse - so strong that it has inspired the creation of the Maboneng Township Arts Experience, which has been turning ordinary township homes and street corners into colourful art galleries since 2000.

Art lovers, enthusiasts and those attending the arts experience can look forward to Simphiwe Ngwenya’s work. He is Maboneng’s co-founding director and works with pencil and oils. Simphiwe also uses music to advance socially significant messages.

Regardless of the talent you’ll find in the township along with colourful stories, rich history and interesting characters, up until recently, many township residents viewed art as an outsiders’ activity. This is what prompted local artist, Simphiwe Ngwenya, to start up the Maboneng Township Arts Experience. To change perceptions in his neighbourhood, Simphiwe roped in some local artists and they began performing and modelling their craft in Alexandra, Gauteng.

Working with local residents and families across South African townships, the arts experience has managed to revamp over 70 homes and showcased work from over 50 local and international artists.

Previous installations of the Maboneng Township Arts Experience featured an exciting mix of craftsmanship and artistry, from visual art to film screenings, dance, theatre productions and music. In 2010, the Alexandra leg of the exhibition saw zinc houses turned into image galleries, black and white photographs strung across the rooms, paintings lining the corrugated walls. Backyards were converted into open air art studios while drum majorettes, pantsula dancers, rappers and fashion designers took to the streets to show off their ingenuity.

The art exhibition has also made its way through different locals including Langa, Soweto, Kyamandi and Madadeni in KwaZulu-Natal. This year, the vibrant showcase will be taking place in Gugulethu, Cape Town, on 29 November from 11am to 6pm.

Also in the line-up, all the way from Germany, Phillip Mall received his first pocket camera when he was six. Today, 28-year-old Philip is an expert photographer and filmmaker, and has recently spent time in Cape Town to give support to the Maboneng Township Arts Experience.

Artists and performers from Uganda, Tanzania, Germany, Finland and China will help South Africans celebrate a global passion for art by presenting their creative pieces and performances in and around Gugulethu.

Organisers have arranged for guided tours to each ‘Gallery Home’ and, as they make their way to each house, locals and out-of-towners can enjoy the brightly coloured murals dotted along the pedestrian route.

The arts experience will also be adding special ‘meditation homes’ to this year’s festivities. Members of the public are welcome to experience the art of mediation in these real life spaces, where homeowners have been trained in the art of meditation and relaxation. Visitors can also expect film screenings of Albie Sachs’ Soft Vengeance - a film that explores his journey of meditation in South Africa.

Property24’s campaign, The Art of Home, supports the festival and the artists taking part in this year’s Maboneng Township Arts Experience. As part of the campaign, over the next four weeks, Property24 will feature eight of the exhibiting artists on its website. 

A one of a kind artist, also exhibiting at the festival, James Musoke-Lule studied fine art at the University of Makerere in Uganda. Now based in Cape Town, James uses coloured pixels of acrylic paint with denim as his canvas to create beautiful paintings.

Art lovers, enthusiasts and those attending the arts experience can look forward to Simphiwe Ngwenya’s work. He is Maboneng’s co-founding director and works with pencil and oils. Simphiwe also uses music to advance socially significant messages.

Also in the line-up, all the way from Germany, Phillip Mall received his first pocket camera when he was six. Today, 28-year-old Philip is an expert photographer and filmmaker and has recently spent time in Cape Town to give support to the Maboneng Township Arts Experience.

A one of a kind artist, also exhibiting at the festival, James Musoke-Lule studied fine art at the University of Makerere in Uganda. Now based in Cape Town, James uses coloured pixels of acrylic paint and denim as his canvas to create beautiful paintings.

Don’t miss out on this celebration of art, culture, community values and township life.

The Maboneng Township Arts Experience will also provide ticket holders with a shuttle service, which will depart from the City Sightseeing offices on the corner of Long Street and Shortmarket Street in Cape Town. Shuttle service tickets cost R500.

Those who won’t be making use of the service will be charged R200 for adults and R150 for children.

Book your tickets now!