Bringing the kulture to the people
"We are tired of multinational corporations giving us something that we can do for ourselves."
Naledi Extension 2 and Protea Glen just got cultured when the Busking Joburg team decided to bring the Kulture Market to their area recently.
The purpose of the event was to creatively look at spaces to activate in the urban areas, places that lack art or culture.
“So, we basically look at the space, consult with the people in that area and curate what we think will work in that space because it’s not just one size fits all in the sense that we take the same market everywhere.
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“Vilakazi Street has nice things there, but the greater part of Soweto is very quiet,” said Pantshwa.
Having only been around for five/six months the agency had its first Kulture Market in the Johannesburg CBD between Sauer Street and Gandhi Square.
The area for them reflected an upmarket corporate environment which needed some colour to bring life to it.
“Marshalltown is basking so its artists that come and play or paint on the street during the day so the workers that come from their buildings during lunchtimes can listen to music or art therapy by going through that environment.
“We’ve seen a change in that street because the neighbouring restaurants are starting to cater for people coming outside,” said Pantshwa.
Unfortunately for the agency, this Kulture Market wasn’t received as well in Soweto. Due to the fact that the weather was not clear, vendors that were supposed to display their work either didn’t pitch or arrived late slowing down the market.
Empty tables and chairs sat there waiting for vendors to arrive.However, the few that were there, did fil their tables and had interesting brand names like Deep Soweto, Stupid Caps and the like on display.
Pantshwa’s business partner Molefi Makanalisa said, “We chose this specific spot because we’ve got so many sports complexes in Soweto and we feel like we could put them to use you know and people go to where things are, this is our contribution in activating the township because we are from Soweto.
Makanalisa said that they were trying to bring culture and activate those spaces from townships to the inner city. The stuff they want to push at their markets are hand-made and that makes them special from store-bought items.
There were clothing brands, township cuisine, artists, traditional, there were supposed to be some 30 odd vendors on display.
“We intend to keep the initiative mobile, we want to Soweto to be aware of this, so we want to move around Soweto and go to where our people are, and we are hoping to have the next one on the last Saturday of November.”
If you have a style or brand that you are working on and want to be part of the exhibitors for the next Kulture Market you can email Daliwonga on dali@busking.co.za or go to the Sowetotourism.org.za for more information on the movement.
“We are tired of multinational corporations giving us something that we can do for ourselves, we are a beautiful people and we are trying to circulate income around Soweto before it leaves the township; we are the only one who can better ourselves.
“The Kulture Market is in Soweto, we need to reclaim our confidence as the people of Soweto and believe in ourselves,” concluded Pantshwa.
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