If you want to truly understand South Africa, there’s only one place to start – Johannesburg. It’s in Jozi where you’ll feel the real pulse of the country – the energy, diversity, and creative collision of cultures.
That was the message Jozi My Jozi took to Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban in May this year. Come and see how Jozi does it: witness a city in transformation, where neglected spaces are being revitalised, where vibrant walkable networks are being reborn.
Africa’s Travel Indaba is the country’s iconic African leisure trade show, owned by South African Tourism, and is a networking and deal-making platform for people in the travel industry across the continent. One of Jozi My Jozi’s missions is to revive the creative and tourism economy of the inner city by promoting local businesses, walking tours, art installations, eateries and inventive spaces. We’re not trying to portray a sanitised version of the city, but to celebrate the city’s raw energy, resilience and distinctive character.
Take a tour of the city’s amazing mural art and graffiti. The city’s street art scene is a powerful expression of its creative energy and a rich inspiration for the city’s visual identity, and Jozi is one of the world’s most sought-after destinations for murals and graffiti art. Established and emerging local and international artists have created beauty and vibrancy in our streets – from Braamfontein and Newtown in the west to Maboneng, Jewel City and Lorentzville in the east.
Take a tour of the inner city’s Literary District, the LitDistrict as it’s known. Pioneered by Bridge Books, who have a shop in the Barbican Centre, the LitDistrict celebrates Jozi’s book culture. From traditional bookstores to sidewalk vendors – there are more than 70 booksellers in nearby blocks – the LitDistrict brings together the recently reopened City Library, tourists, booksellers and readers in a safe, walkable neighbourhood.
Take a guided walking tour of Hillbrow, a high-density, low-income pan African neighbourhood where nearly a hundred thousand people live within a square kilometre. This is a chance to explore the city’s most misunderstood neighbourhood and a chance to see the best views from the top of Ponte, the infamous 54-storey tower with a hollow centre and a dark past.
Take a tour of Victoria Yards, Jozi’s most signature art space in Lorentzville, which showcases the diversity of talent in the city and surrounds, featuring shops, galleries, studios, workshops, coffee shops and a gorgeous edible garden. Their first-Sundays-of-the-month markets are a huge success and testament to how art is being used to create stronger communities and to deepen our understanding of each other.
Take a tour of Constitution Hill, a living museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy. The site is a former prison and military fort that bears testament to South Africa’s turbulent past and, today, is home to the country’s Constitutional Court, which endorses the rights of all citizens.
These are just some of the experiences the inner city has to offer. From buzzing markets and world-class art galleries to township festivals and lively nightlife, Jozi is where authentic stories unfold at every turn.
