“Hey Hillbrow! Let’s Dlala!” festival energizes Johannesburg’s downtown area
Artists from Johannesburg brought music, dance, and theater performances to the streets of Hillbrow during the sixth edition of the ‘Hey Hillbrow! Let’s Dlala!’ public street arts festival over the weekend.
The procession began at the well-known Windybrow Theatre Complex and proceeded through Hillbrow, an urban neighborhood grappling with numerous issues such as deteriorating facilities, seized structures, criminal activity, and prevalent substance abuse.
Each year, for several days, the public arts festival transforms the streets with the aim of reshaping the future of urban neighborhoods.
“Hillbrow Unites! embodies the potential that public performances bring to communal areas—spreading vitality, joy, astonishment, and challenge, while highlighting the remarkable efforts of various groups and people who persistently influence urban neighborhoods and environments,” stated Bongiwe Potelwa from The Market Theatre.
The current year’s event was a joint effort involving The Windybrow Arts Centre alongside various local youth organizations, primarily located within the inner-city area. This festival showcased more than 300 performers and included acts selected by experienced artists Tamzyn Botha and Daniel Buckland, guided by the central theme.
Time travel through dreaming
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Members of the African Reclaimers Organisation participated in the festival as well, showcasing costumes and artworks created from recycled materials.
The students from the Johannesburg Society for the Blind presented a theatrical performance highlighting the festival’s dedication to inclusion.
“The purpose of the arts isn’t to turn kids into artists, but rather to teach them problem-solving skills. As evident at this festival, participants ranging from youngsters to grown-ups gain empowerment through this process. In my view, once individuals feel empowered, it marks the beginning of significant progress,” stated festival curator Tamzyn Botha.
Additionally, Botha manages Shade, an independently funded local arts initiative that conducts weekly interdisciplinary activities for kids in Brixton. She mentioned that grassroots organizations at the community level continually struggle with securing funds and ensuring their longevity.
“The vision is for all these organizations to gather in one space, enabling us to jointly tackle challenges and strive toward a more sustainable future for the arts sector,” stated Botha.
Gerard Bester, who leads the Windybrow Arts Centre, highlighted the significance of the arts.
Creativity and imagination are essential. Without envisioning ourselves in unexpected situations, there would be no hope. The arts provide this for us; they enable us to picture ourselves transcending our current circumstances. That’s why I believe we engage in artistic pursuits.
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