Art tour and craft gin tasting
On display were various murals, all painted by the locals to pretty-up their otherwise somewhat bleak-looking environment. A lot of the art was skilfully painted, and we were guided around the area by one of the artists, Juma Mkwela.
Juma was born in Malawi, raised in Zimbabwe and now lives in Khayelitsha. He is an artist with a bright smile and a passion for his various communities. After fleeing political, social and economic turmoil, he moved to South Africa in hopes of a better future. While in South Africa, Juma recognized that many xenophobic actions stem from a lack of education and understanding of other cultures. Combining his love for art and craft, along with his new desire to educate, Juma set out to share his own interests by teaching the community through art leadership and development programs.
He believes in the potential and the positive impact that street art can have in the township communities, such as his own home in Khayelitsha. Street art allows artists to tell their story to a larger audience in a more permanent space. In addition, street art creates a beautiful space within the communities that makes residents eager to get their spaces painted as well.
Juma set up his own company: Juma Art Tours, an organisation that offers various immersive experiences in townships and areas often overlooked by tourists with the aim to create a better understanding of the area visited for those who visit.
Woodstock also boasts a number of artisan shops and an art gallery so there is plenty to see and do. After our art tour, we were treated to an altogether different experience; craft gin tasting. Needless to say, all participants left the venue in high spirits after an enjoyable hour of teambuilding and gin tasting.
Juma Art Tours can customise various tours for those interested in visiting a less well-known area of Cape Town.