Johannesburg is buzzing lately so we thought we’d give you a heads up about some of the great events happening around the city.
Artist Gerard Sekoto currently has work on exhibition at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. The exhibition will run until 30 January 2011. Sekoto’s well-known painting, Yellow Houses, was the first piece by a black artist to enter JAG’s collection. When it was first put up he had to pretend to be a cleaner to see it on display because of racial restrictions of the time. The gallery is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm.
Michael Jackson fans lamented the pop stars death in 2009. If you were one of those mourning then why not book tickets for History – This Is It which is on at the Joburg Theatre from Wednesday 19 February. The show is a tribute to Jackson, tracing his life-story from as early as The Jackson 5 days. There are more than 20 songs featured and all are performed by acclaimed Jackson impersonator, Kenny Wizz.
If you feel like some fresh air why not walk one of Jozi’s oldest and most spectacular indigenous parks, The Wilds, on Sunday 23 January? Meet the walkers at 7am at St John’s College at the end of St Patrick Road on the corner of Houghton Drive. Children are welcome and so are dogs on leads.
For some truly traditional entertainment book tickets to see Sunjata, an adaptation of a classic African tale that has been told by many generations of griots (oral historians) from Dogon, Manding, Banyangara, Sengui and other villages. The story follows two powerful kings who deal with the complexities that a prophecy brings into their lives. The story is adapted and directed by James Ngcobo and runs at the Market Theatre until mid-March. There is a dinner package available – for just R120 you can book for any show and a meal at the Market Bar and Bistro. To book call 011 832 1641 or visit www.computicket.co.za.
The Goodman Gallery is host to Sa-born and UK-based Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin’s latest offering where the artists bring together three powerful series produced in the past four years. People in trouble laughing pushed to the ground (2010), The Day Nobody Died (2008) and The Red House (2007) are all located within areas of conflict – Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Irag respectively. The exhibition opens Thursday 20 January at 6pm and will run until 12 February. The Goodman Gallery is at 163 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
