The Maboneng Township Art experience tour showcases the talents of Gugulethu and Langa townships. It offsets the creative energy of these two vibrant townships with their historical narratives so that visitors can better appreciate the artistic output of the two locations.

We start the tour with a visit to the Guga S’thebe Culture Centre, housed in a brightly coloured building. The name is derived from the traditional Xhosa platter known as isithebe that is used to serve guests and family. Isithebe signifies a meeting place and traditional African values like Ubuntu. In much the same way the centre is a shared public space that serves the community and functions as a cultural hub in Langa. It is dedicated to the residents of the township and is intended to empower them by improving their economic conditions. It provides a space for local artists and craftsmen to work, showcase and even sell their work to locals and tourists. On the day of our visit Monwabisi Golden, an exceptional storyteller, who performs a variety of stories that reflect the current state of the country, greets us and shares one of his stories.

After Monwabisi’s performance we head to the Langa Heritage Museum, also known as the Dompass Museum. During apartheid all non-white people outside the confines of their government designated areas were legally required to carry passbooks otherwise known as a Dompass. Failure to produce one to the police meant a fine or arrest. The museum was once a pass office and court in the apartheid era and this informs the atmosphere of the space. The mood is a mix of emotions that move between systematic abuse, resistance and triumph. This is just some of the history that defines Langa and influences some of the art coming out of this township.

Our first two stops lay the groundwork for our visits to a series of township homes that use their walls to display art by local artists. This is an initiative that has created a sustainable form of income for home owners right from their lounges, and has provided local artists with spaces to exhibit their work. Homeowners and artists also share the profits of sales. On the drive to visit our first home gallery, we drive past several graffiti murals, almost as a kind of prelude to the incredible art to come. The first gallery is at the home of Dizu Plaatjies, who is the founder and former leader of the South African group, Amampondo, a renowned percussion ensemble. Besides the colourful work on display we also get the chance to learn more about traditional Xhosa instruments and Amapondo’s storied career. At the second home gallery, we meet Mom Nxaba, the owner of the home. On her walls is an exhibition of works by Mongesi Gum, an artist who uses chalk pastels to create beautiful masterpieces. The next gallery is Velile Soha’s home, a visual artist who’s been active for over 30years experience and works in linocut, oil paintings and murals.

Velile’s house is our last stop on our gallery trot in Langa and next we head to four homes in Gugulethu to see what artistic gems might be hanging in people’s homes. In Gugulethu we visit the original gallery homeowners of the Gugulethu and Langa art tours. The homes of Norma Nojozi, Debrah Mfiki, Vuyelwa Jilaji and Xoliswa Jeku house an incredible collection of local township artists. Some of the works we encounter include the photography of Sydell Willow Smith, David, a 19-year-old mostly self-taught artist who considers Fadhili Mkali, a well-known Tanzanian artist, as his mentor.

This tour is a must for art lovers keen to have a souvenir to take home with them, but it is even better experienced as a way to uncover the creative talent of South Africans and to understand the socio-economic and historical conditions that inspire the works that hang in the home galleries of Gugulethu and Langa.