Making a mark in the City - Street Art Tour, Johannesburg

Experience the cultural vibrancy of Johannesburg with a guided graffiti street art tour through Newtown precinct, a hub for arts, entertainment, and history. Beginning at Mary Fitzgerald Square, your local guide will offer a fresh perspective on street art, linking it with hip-hop culture and democratic freedom. The tour's ever-changing nature, with new murals and tags appearing regularly, ensures a unique experience every time.

Johannesburg's energetic Newtown precinct is certain to satisfy your cultural cravings. The precinct, based around Mary Fitzgerald Square, is a vibrant hub of creativity, housing numerous cultural institutions such as Museum Africa, The Market Theatre, and The Workers' Museum. It's also home to Sci-Bono, dance studios, artist workshops, and a variety of bustling restaurants and nightlife, all of which contribute to the area's dynamic energy. Your Newtown experience begins with a delightful mix of traditional institutions and contemporary street culture, an organic blend that defines the district's unique character.

Your cultural adventure starts with an eye-opening graffiti tour guided by Bongani, a local expert. He aims to challenge your perception of graffiti, often viewed as a sign of social disruption or urban decay. However, Bongani presents it as a valid form of art that's accessible to all. He starts the tour with an engaging discussion on the history of graffiti and its deep-seated connection with hip-hop culture, which has significantly contributed to its growth in South Africa.

Next, you'll visit an unconventional open-air gallery, an underground parking rooftop adorned with an array of rectangular concrete pillars, each showcasing graffiti artist Mars's signature tag. The tour continues around the corner, revealing a wall that celebrates both famous and budding artists. Here, the superb skills of renowned graffiti artists like Tapz, Mars, and the rest of the Demolition Squad are displayed alongside the works of unknown artists, emphasizing talent as the true measure of an artist's greatness.

Navigating across the square, you'll find yourself under the M1 motorway, a location transformed into a vibrant graffiti shrine. Each pillar is covered with remarkable murals by Johannesburg's finest artists and invited guests from Cape Town, as part of the annual Back to the City hip-hop festival. The artworks here represent interpretations of freedom—an apt tribute to the 20 years of democratic freedom South Africa celebrated in 2014. The festival, held every Freedom Day (April 27), is a testament to the spirit of expression that Newtown embodies.

The journey concludes at the Car Fax tunnel, where you'll discover a series of new murals and tags, a testament to the ever-evolving nature of graffiti art. Bongani's tour offers a unique perspective on graffiti art, highlighting its transformative power, and in doing so, making his own mark on the vibrant Newtown culture.