Feeling the Love in Jozi (Johannesburg)

My time in Johannesburg can be best described as go-with-the-flow. The only thing I planned in advance was accommodation, and meeting up with old friends. If awards were being handed out for ‘who saw the most in Jozi,’ I’d be out. However, I felt the love here reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. Not to worry, I still played tourist/adventure seeker!

Playing Tourist & Taking History Lessons

I don’t usually go on these hop-on-hop-off buses, as I get bored. In Johannesburg, it was recommended as a great way to get an overview of the city. I enjoyed learning about the history of the city, how it was built, and how townships came to be. Did you know that the name of Johannesburg’s largest township ’Soweto’ is short for ‘South West Township?’ I did the full route but stopped at the Constitution Hill and Apartheid Museum to explore.

Constitution Hill

Wow! This heritage museum was formerly a fort, later used as a prison. Political activists opposed to apartheid were imprisoned here including Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, and Joe Slovo. Mahatma Gandhi was also imprisoned here. Section #4 of the prison is famous for housing black men. With the help of a tour guide, I learned more about South Africa’s path to democracy. Now, on these same grounds stand the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

Hearing about the conditions of these prisoners (men and women) will move you, and will stir you up. How hard am I willing to go, how long will I stand,  and how much will I suffer for what I believe to be right and just?

Apartheid Museum: 

Wow Wow Wow! I learned about Apartheid as a child growing up in Nigeria. Do you remember singing about ‘freeing Mandela’ as a child? I remember the day Nelson Mandela was released, Nigeria celebrated with South Africa, as did the world!

The apartheid museum brings this piece of history to life and breaks it down in a way that I’d never seen. The combination of Robben Island, Constitution Hill, and the Apartheid museum had me in awe of our capacity to endure. The exhibitions are dramatic, raw, and emotional. If you really want to understand what apartheid South Africa was like, you’ve got to stop here. You will need tissues!

South Africa is young and is still broken in many ways (understandably so) but there’s so much beauty and potential. I have so much hope and I pray that the deepest of wounds heal. I hope that the people continue to stand up to the corruption that currently permeates its leadership.

Saturday at the Neigbourgoods Market

Looking for a place with locally made goods, a variety of food, drinks, music, and locals on a Saturday? Look no further! The market is located in an old office building in Braamfontein. Walk around and see the endless option of food and drink (local and international). From pizzas in cupcakes, to coconuts, to amazing cocktail and mock tails, to beer, to vegetarian food, oysters, champagne, waffles, Korean noodles, to the most indulgent dessert, biltong, spring rolls, paid Thai, braai (but of course), Congolese jollof, salami, coffee, ice cream. Eat as you walk or grab your buys and sit at a large wooden table in the main hall, and chat to strangers.

Done with food? Upstairs, the DJ is playing some house music and every corner is packed! Check out the wares of the artisans from jewelry to clothing, to bags. Sit back, and people watch! 200% recommended! Thanks Ziningi for recommending this place, there is a sister market in Cape Town and a market in funky Maboneng on Sundays. Tip: Take an uber and skip worrying about getting lost or finding parking.

 

Hangin’

Connecting with old friends was a highlight of my time in Jozi! My first night, Leigh-Anne and Tom (South African friends I met in Edinburgh through work) picked me up and we played catch up and shared a lip-smacking meal. I tried Boerewors for the first time and it was to die for, this is saying a lot for a non-sausage lover. Another night, I caught up with my girl Zi and her girlfriends, and of course there was music and dancing! It was also great to be able to talk with locals about my trips and things I’d noticed in South Africa so far. Of course, they had the best tips. The genuine warmth, but especially the sacrifice of their time was so special and I appreciated it so much! Quality time (not quantity) is one of the ways to my heart :).

 

New Friends are Welcome

As we mature, we become very protective of our friendships and circles (as we should), but it’s also important to make room for new, and to extend a warm welcome sometimes! I mentioned here that I was going to accept the kindness of strangers on this trip, and I did in many ways. One day, while on Safari I got a message in my DM from someone I knew of but didn’t actually follow closely at the time. She put out an offer to hang out as she was in town for work. I said yes (use judgment peeps!). I showed up, we sealed it with face painting, banter, food, life/career talk, faith talk, travel stories, a late night, and a forced workout in the morning (I was not a willing participant initially). Turns out, we get along great! All because Kemi took a step, and I responded. Although it sounds like a coincidence, I’m pretty certain it was ordained. Morale of the story: pay attention to your DMs, it doesn’t always have to be a love interest. Say Yes ;).

 

 

Will I Be Back?

Johannesburg is very different from Cape Town but it is equally worth a visit. This city left me feeling loved but also challenging my wokeness. I know that I’ll be back in Johannesburg to see Maboneng and Soweto; it’s just a matter of when. I’ll just put it out there that I’m accepting Cape Town destination wedding, naming ceremonies, birthdays, house warming, summer kick off, and heck any occasion!! I don’t need much convincing but my bank account might.

Have you been to Johannesburg? What did you get up to? What one word captures the city in your opinion?

ICYMI, play catch up on all my other posts on this trip: The Kick off – Traveling Africa, The Itinerary, Cape Town, Victoria Falls, and Safari.