Parys’ hidden cultural gem

Children laughing as they play on a jumping castle, a spoken word artist performing in Sesotho and English, and the smell of braaied  meat all hang in the air of what is usually an empty piece of earth next to the Tumahole taxi rank on the first Saturday of every month.
The Tumahole Arts Market, which has been operating since 2015, is the brainchild of Rantoloko Molokoane, an artist in his own right. He wants to teach children from Tumahole that they can make it as creatives in the township. Molokoane hopes that locals from Parys and tourists will increasingly frequent the market and spend money in this part of the town where it is much needed.
The food alone should be a good enough reason to attract people. A delicious plate of Hlakwana (cow trotters), excellently cooked krummelpap and a side of beans sets you back only R30.  The market also features local crafters such as seamstress Paulina Leboko who makes clothes out of Nigerian prints and traditional    beadwork. T-shirts designed by Baba Tjeko, a local graphics creative whose work recently featured on the front page of the Sunday Times, can also be found at the market. There is a pool table and plenty of chairs and shade to sit and enjoy the live performances by local artists. The market offers those from outside of Tumahole a friendly and safe environment to get to know the township and its remarkable people.