Celebrating Africa’s Art Scene
When thinking of Africa our minds often drift to the incredible diversity of wildlife and the vast and varied landscapes. The amalgamation of cultures, cuisines, and communities has created a thriving art scene in Africa where tradition and innovation combine. From high-end, cutting-edge galleries to vivid street art and architectural wonders we reveal some of our favourite African art-related attractions and immersions.
Cape Town
The art capital of Africa, Cape Town’s art scene is a vibrant reflection of the city’s eclectic spirit and diverse cultural influences. Every February the city attracts flocks of visitors as it hosts the renowned African Art Fair. During the week-long festival, the city comes alive as it showcases the latest in contemporary African art trends. With a wide selection of exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events the fair offers something for everyone.
The art doesn’t stop there, and from the colourful streets of Bo-Kaap, to the contemporary and rather eye-catching Zeitz Museum the city has an amazing array of artistic options to explore.
Art in the City – full or half day tour
Experience the city through the lens of a local specialist art guide well-versed in navigating the inner workings of its best galleries. Completely tailored to your tastes and interests this tour can focus exclusively on what excites you: sculpture design, photography, printmaking, architecture, historical art collections or ceramics. Choose to explore the elaborate modern galleries or the edgier fringe suburbs such as Woodstock and District Six or visit the studio of an internationally acclaimed South African artist. This tour can also be combined with a visit to the Zeitz Museum.
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa – MOCAA
Footsteps to Freedom Township Experience – half day tour
Delve into the recent history of the Xhosa on this experience of Langa township, meet the locals and hear stories both past and present. Led by an authentic storyteller you’ll be escorted through the streets where the locals trade, children play and people gather. This explorative tour gives you a fantastic insight into the lives of the people and is a hugely rewarding addition to your trip.
Mix and mingle with local life
Bo-Kaap Walking Tour – half day tour
Bo-Kaap, derived from the Afrikaans phrase meaning “above the Cape”, holds a significant place in South African history as the oldest and most historic residential area. Its roots can be traced back to the time of Dutch colonists who brought slaves from Indonesia, Batavia, Malaysia, India, and Africa. This melting pot of cultures has resulted in unique and unparalleled Bo-Kaap culture, customs, and cuisine. The guided walking tour concludes with a taste of Cape Malay cooking; your taste buds will be delighted by Cape Malay delights such as curry, roti, samosas, koeksisters, sambals, falooda, and cardamom tea.
Walk the colourful streets of Bo-Kaap
Johannesburg
If Cape Town is the heart of South Africa, Johannesburg is the soul. A mecca for creatives to showcase the country’s cultural tapestry and creative brilliance including urban design, expansive art markets and vibrant street art that tell stories of tradition and political history, Johannesburg caters to all tastes whether classical and traditional or modern and contemporary.
Art in the City – full day tour
Johannesburg is a city with a story to tell and it is well worth spending a day discovering the dynamic contemporary art scene with visits to top galleries. The day is tailored just for you, start with a walk through the mural coated streets or visit a renowned artist’s studio before heading to Wits Art Museum (WAM), home to a vast collection of African art from across the continent. After having lunch at venues boasting some of the best views of Johannesburg, explore South Africa’s cutting-edge contemporary art and photography at Stevens Gallery. A thought-provoking and immersive day out that can be tailored according to individual tastes and interests.
Discover the vibrant murals that line the streets of Johannesburg
Street Art & Urban Regeneration in Braamfontein, Newton & Maboneng – half day tour
Braamfontein is a cosmopolitan cultural hub and known as Johannesburg’s hipster capital. Brimming with young creativity the tour navigates through quirky coffee stops, eclectic fashion boutiques, street art and graffiti including the famous mural of Nelson Mandela painted by Shepard Fairey (designer of the famous Barack Obama campaign). Take a walk down the rejuvenated Juta Street, a bustling hangout spot with pop-up bars playing local music, rooftop cocktail bars and a lively nightlife scene before heading over to Newtown via the Nelson Mandela Bridge to uncover Johannesburg’s rich history of gold mining and its time as a transport hub. Finish the tour with a visit to Maboneng, a neighbourhood that’s undergone incredible urban regeneration in recent years. Old manufacturing buildings have been revived and retrofitted into chic, commercial workspaces and artist studios which help to give this emerging, contemporary urban space its unique character and charm.
Musicians performing at The Orbit, Braamfontein
Bespoke Creation – half day tour
Explore the streets of Johannesburg’s fashion district guided by an enthusiastic and dynamic local designer as you pass notable fashion landmarks on a journey to craft your own African-inspired garment. Visit a fabric shop specifically chosen by the guide to choose your unique print from the multitude of options before returning to the design studio to collaborate on your very own custom creation, the perfect memento of the day.
Explore Johannesburg’s fashion district
Kigali
Kigali has emerged from the ashes of the genocide as a forward-thinking, vibrant city, abuzz with energy, and the up-and-coming art scene is growing quickly fostering many creative entrepreneurial endeavours that use arts, crafts, fashion, music and dance to conjure a visual narrative of present day Rwanda.
Choose Kigali – full day tour
Founded by world-renowned artist Emmanuel Nkuranga in 2019, Choose Kigali thrills the senses offering fine dining surrounded by several floors of an open art gallery. Enjoy the delicacies of Kigali cuisine whilst feasting your eyes on a collection of the latest contemporary African Art. For an immersive one-of-a-kind experience join their “Creative Day in the Bush and a personalised Art and Fashion Tour.” Start the day with a helicopter tour taking in the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ from above before landing in a secluded spot in the wilderness, away from the stress of everyday life. You’ll be met by the Choose Kigali team who will supply you with all the tools you need to let your creative juices flow.
Dine at Choose Kigali
Kigali’s Street Art
Explore the streets of Kigali, peppered with bright and boldly coloured murals laced with an undercurrent of positive and uplifting messaging. This initiative was spear-headed by community-based social enterprise Kurema, Kureba, Kwiga (meaning to create, to see, to learn) whose mission is to engage society in creating positive social change. They have partnered with Rwandan artists to clean up the streets, raise awareness through revolutionary and creative expression, and broaden the concept of what art is and who it is for.
Inema Arts Centre
Brothers Emmanuel Nkuranga and Innocent Nkurunziza are the driving forces behind this latest initiative, Inema Arts Centre – a space to inspire and nurture creativity. Home to five resident artists at a time this creative hub plays a vital role in influencing the next generation, providing inspiration through exhibitions and mentorship programmes and fostering artistic training and community connection. Explore the art gallery on a sensory journey of rhythmic traditional drumming, immersive dance shows and hands-on classes.
Inema Arts Centre
Many people say travel is a gateway to cultural immersion. By visiting new places, participating in local events and festivals, and interacting with people from different backgrounds we gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the world around us.
What next?
We would be delighted to help you plan a holiday encompassing any of the stays and trips mentioned here. Our team of experts has travelled widely throughout Africa and can offer expert advice from family and beach holidays to city escapes and riding and primate safaris. Do get in touch – chatting to people by phone or email is what we do best. We listen, we explain, we answer all sorts of questions even those you didn’t know to ask, and finally, we make suggestions. If this is your first time in Africa or your twenty first, we have a team standing by to help make the planning easy and the journey the best ever. Please get in touch whatever stage you’re at.
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