On a Sunday afternoon, a group of volunteers cordon off an ordinary street in Brixton, Johannesburg. They attach flags to palisade fences. Scaffolding appears at an intersection. Colourful paper cups form rings and grow into a baobab tree, lights attached to its branches.
At the stalls, popular local chefs dish up their best. A tireless member of the community forum sells raffle tickets. Printed T-shirts of the event sell out fast. Someone offers popcorn at R2 a packet, another sells wooden craft. A reclaimers’ organisation displays its festive installation of recycled treasures. The ward councillor turns out in a glowing hat, while young and old step out in daring costumes admired by many.
Moments later, masked and with attempts to physical distance, a procession sweeps through Brixton’s streets. It swells with new arrivals from the northern suburbs. There was no official advertising; the Brixton Light Festival is an event intended for its residents. Still, social media is abuzz. The pantsula dance group Bhizzo Boyz kick off proceedings at the Brixton Light Festival, on 6 February 2022.
By now, the crowd has doubled, tripled and quadrupled, not only with visitors but locals from all corners and walks of life in Brixton, many not on the community WhatsApp groups that announced the event. A decade ago, the census revealed Brixton as a demographic and socioeconomic microcosm of Johannesburg in its entirety.
Up the slope at the steel-framed swings and jungle gym, yet another crowd forms around an agile dance production. It’s now close to 9pm. Brixton’s children are holding onto this moment in their very own playground, rubbing their eyes and pinching themselves to check they aren’t dreaming. This is the city as an oeuvre or work of art. Built form and society defamiliarised and momentarily reassembled, for one evening tied into an enchanted entanglement.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: KickOffMagazine - 🏆 36. / 51 Read more »
Source: mailandguardian - 🏆 2. / 92 Read more »
Source: TheCitizen_News - 🏆 6. / 75 Read more »
Source: TheCitizen_News - 🏆 6. / 75 Read more »
Source: mybroadband - 🏆 11. / 67 Read more »
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »