CITYVIEWS
July 2012
Photos by Lisa Burnell, Caroline Jordan and Sydelle Willow Smith
YOUR FREE CAPE TOWN CENTRAL CITY PAPER
Cape Town as a
DIVERSE CITY
Around the world in a city block
The fashion ramp is on the
street
>> page 6 &7
CLEAN | SAFE | CAR I NG
>> page 4, 5, 12
Spicing up the CBD
>> page 8 & 9
2
about
town
CityViews
A celebration of diversity in the city
D
id you know: Table Mountain is sometimes compared to Janus, the double-headed Roman god of new beginnings and transitions, of doors and gateways, the past and the future? It’s an apt metaphor for July in Cape Town as we mark the half-way point through the year. With six months left, what do you still want to do in 2012, and how will you take care of it? As you take time to reflect on what’s past, and plan for what’s ahead, let me encourage you to keep two things in mind: What can you do to show the people around you – in your community and your city – that you care, and to celebrate the difference and diversity in that community?
Show you care Being mindful of those around
you – whether they are parking guards or street cleaners, the neighbour across the street or the family member in your own home – is important all year round. Take time to acknowledge these people, and to be grateful for the role they play in your life, however big or small. And in your gratitude, take a moment to think about those who are less fortunate. Winter, while relatively mild in the Western Cape, can be hard on those who have no home – those living on the streets – so please show you care by giving responsibly. There are a number of organisations who are working hard to ensure there is a viable alternative to life on the streets. Instead of giving R5 or R10 at a traffic light or street corner, give to the organisations who can really make a difference – by offering your time, your money, your exper-
July 2012
CITYVIEWS Published by:
tise. For more details about these organisations and what they do, read the back page of every edition of City Views.
The Central City Improvement District (CCID)
Editor: Judith Browne: 021 419 1881 judith@capetownpartnership.co.za
Deputy Editor:
Celebrate diversity While you’re being mindful of the people around you, take a moment to appreciate how different these people are. One of the most compelling things about Cape Town is its diversity – that you can hear so many different languages, whether French or Portuguese or Somali, on our streets. That our cityscape is defined by the boom of the Noon Gun as much as it is the muezzin’s call to prayer. That you can travel the world by walking a few city blocks. My challenge to you this July – and the five months of 2012 that follow after that – is to step outside yourself and learn more
Benita Kursan
Website: www.capetowncid.co.za www.capetownpartnership.co.za
Design: Infestation www.infestation.co.za 021 461 8601
about another culture, another language, another way of life in the city. The diversity of Cape Town CBD is something to be both understood and celebrated, and it starts with you.
The Central City Improvement District is a private-public partnership formed by the property owners of a defined geographical area to provide top-up services over and above what the City of Cape Town provides. The CCID and its managing agent, the Cape Town Partnership, were formed when the City of Cape Town, the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), the Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders came together to address issues of urban degeneration, disinvestment in the Central City and related social problems. The Central City’s rapid regeneration process has been built upon the strength and pillars of successful private-public partnerships at both operational and strategic levels, and a shared vision for a clean, safe and caring Cape Town CBD.
Yours in gratitude and diversity, Tasso Evangelinos COO of the CCID
CARING CITY
Photo: Supplied by Cape Town Tourism
SAVE THESE NUMBERS ON YOUR PHONE
Photo: Lisa Burnell
MANDELA DAY 2012
Parking marshal Natasha Alaart on duty in Darling Street
Gratitude attitude Everyday acts of kindness help transform Cape Town, and City Views would like to recognise those individuals who would otherwise continue doing good, but without thanks. In May we received an email from Street Parking Solutions applauding one of their Darling Street parking marshals, Natasha Alaart, for helping to stop a thief who was trying to steal something out of a car parked in the area. Thanks to the keen eyes and ears of people like Natasha, Cape Town’s streets stay as safe as they are. “It’s very exciting doing this work,” Natasha says. “People know me and I feel
safe here. I meet lots of people and I love working outdoors. My hope for this place is that … one day there will be more opportunities for people to find work here.
Is there someone who has transformed your experience of the city? Write to us and tell us about it.
What are you doing with your own two hands and 67 minutes for Mandela Day this 18 July 2012? Register your project at www.mandeladay.com
5
things to do for diversity
What can you do to help foster diversity in Cape Town? Here are five easy steps by the Arterial Network’s Ouafa Belgacem and U40 Africa coordinator Daniel Lima: 1. Eat a meal in a restaurant where different cultures are represented.
2. Read literature by African writers and arrange a discussion or book exchange session with friends.
3. Watch the ongoing screenings of foreign films at the Labia cinema.
4. Speak to someone in their own language by signing up for foreign language classes.
5. Decorate your home with items handmade by local crafters.
CITY VIEWS ONLINE Read the latest e-dition: www.capetownpartnership.co.za/city-views Friend us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CityViewsCapeTown Follow us on Twitter: @City_Views
CCID Security Manager: 082 453 2942 CCID Deputy Security Manager: 082 442 2112 CCID 24-hour number: 082 415 7127 SAPS Control Room: 021 467 8002 Social Department: 082 563 4289
Telling your story in City Views City Views does not sell advertising or editorial space at this time. We are, however, always on the look out for city ownership stories: tales of people who love the CBD, who choose to live, work, study, invest, and play here. If you would like to be featured, please send your story to judith@capetownpartnership.co.za for consideration. Please note that submission of a story doesn’t guarantee that it will be included.
Distributing City Views If you’re an eager reader of City Views – and you know others who would enjoy reading it too, consider becoming a distributor. All we need is your contact details, address and how many copies you need each month. Or, if you would just like to track down where you can obtain your FREE copy send an email to Aziza Patandin on aziza@capetownpartnership.co.za.
Reading City Views We love knowing who our readers are and what they think. If you enjoy your copy of City Views, why not mail a picture of you reading it, wherever you love to read it (Your local coffee shop? On a street bench while people-watching?) telling us what you enjoyed most. If we like it, we’ll run it. Get in touch: judith@capetownpartnership.co.za.
July 2012
about
CityViews
town
3
DIVERSE CITY
Why does diversity matter?
Photo: Justin Patrick
Cape Town’s CBD is home to people of many different cultures. Their diversity makes the city an exciting place in which to work, stay and play, but there’s a more serious side to it too. A better understanding of diversity can impact an economy positively and help to bridge the gaps between cultures. By: Benita Kursan
F
A snapshot of city diversity
or many of the immigrants and expats who move here, Cape Town represents a place of opportunity, based on pullfactors like the convenience of the city’s geographic proximity to major transport hubs and the beauty of the mountain-meets-sea landscape and the lifestyle it inspires. Tunisia-born Ouafa Belgacem has lived in countries across the continent and recently relocated here to take up the position of secretary general of the Arterial Network – a Pan-African network established to empower creative people and facilitate the creation of a
“Diversity creates great opportunities for an economy because a diversity of people means diverse thoughts, ideas and problem solving. It creates room for creativity as opposed to narrow-minded thinking, and this is sure to drive any economy.” Johannes Kraus
vibrant and diverse cultural community. “The fact that
the city is economically active and geographically convenient helps to attract a mix of people who come here to fulfill their dreams. The unique laid-back vibe of the city attracts a lot of creative people in particular,” says Ouafa. The perception of Cape Town as the country’s multicultural capital is another important pull-factor for many people who move here. “People refer to the city as a cultural melting pot, but strictly speaking, the term ‘melting pot’ is a metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, with its diverse aspects
melting together into one common culture. Multiculturalism on the other hand implies a mixture of different cultures where each culture remains distinct. So the salad bowl metaphor is probably a better way of defining Cape Town,” says French-Beninese Daniel Lima who recently moved here to assume the role of coordinator for the African arm of U40 – a global arts and culture youth leadership network that was formed to help promote the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Johannes Kraus, a local
What did they find?
Diverse city by numbers
The CCID recently conducted a user survey of the CBD, to find out who is using the CBD, why, and where they come from – so as to better meet their needs. Over 1 500 people were interviewed at random (one every eight minutes during a two-week shift in March 2012), at various times of day.
the Of the city users come from el, euw teh Bon , lone (Ath South Claremont, Fish Hoek, Grassy , Hout Bay, Park, Gugulethu, Hanover Park d, Mitchells Plain, Langa, Lavender Hill, Maitlan s, Rondebosch, land Muizenberg, Phillipi, Pine Wynberg) ein, ont ndf Simon’s Town, Stra
38.4%
e from the North (Atlantis,
com 34.6% Bellville, Bloubergstrand, Blue ville,
l, Delft, Durban Downs, Bothasig, Brackenfel ’s Bay, Kenridge, don Gor , vier esri Edgemead, Elsi srivier, Macassar, Khayelitsha, Kraaifontein, Kuil Parklands, Parow, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton, Strand, Table View) t, Wes Scottsdene, Somerset
17.2%
are from outside the metro ter (Paarl, Stellenbosch, Worces ) ond and bey
ich are from the City Bowl (wh ps Bay includes, for this survey, Cam and Clifton)
9.8%
ambassador for InterNations a company that facilitates events to connect its 1 500 members from 62 different continents and settle them in to Cape Town life explains how multiculturalism and a place’s openness to and tolerance of different cultures can play a vital role in economic growth. “Diversity creates great opportunities for an economy because a diversity of people means diverse thoughts, ideas and problem solving. It creates room for creativity as opposed to narrow-minded thinking, and this is sure to drive any economy.” It’s difficult to ascertain exactly how many expats
55.3%
The Arterial Network and U40 Africa 25 Commercial Street T: 021 465 9027 www.arterialnetwork.org InterNations T: 021 426 4606 www.internations.org
of city users are here to work
12.1% 8.7%
live and work in the CBD, but the fact that over 25 foreign consular offices are based here – representing countries as diverse as Belgium, Japan, Switzerland, Brazil, India and Angola – is testament to the diversity of our immigrant population.
are here to study
are here to live
52.1%
say the single biggest reason the CBD is so well regarded is it’s so multicultural
For more information on this user survey (and the business survey of the CBD that happened at the same time) watch out for the August edition of City Views – Cape Town as an economic hub – and the launch of the State of Cape Town Central City Report.
from the
fringe
CityViews CityViews
Soundtrack of the city
ARD FASHION FORW
Championing
From 5 July City Hall Sessions returns with a three-night melting pot of diverse rhythms and beats.
Cape Town fashion
The city’s most familiar Victorian building is due for another dose of sound experience with the third City Hall Sessions event taking place this month. Headlined by South African icons Madala Kunene and Caiphus Semenya, it features a lineup of legendary local jazz, experimental and world music stars.
Bryan Ramkilawan heads up the Barrack Street-based Cape Town Fashion Council (CTFC), an organisation that represents the Western Cape’s fashion industry.
Bryan Ramkilawan
“I’m looking forward to Fashion Week, and using iconic city buildings as show venues – an essential exercise for The Fringe in the lead up to Cape Town as 2014 World Design Capital.” You’ve been at the helm of the Cape Town Fashion Council for just over a year now. What are some of the local initiatives you’ve launched and how have Capetonians responded to them? We’ve revised previous workshops and seminar offerings, resulting in workshop attendance increasing by 100%.
Our membership has grown from 350 members in 2011, to close to 1 800 – an indication that we’re moving in the right direction. Earlier this year we funded a stand at the Design Indaba Expo for our members, and our collective raised R320 000 during the four-day expo, with the CTFC making a return on investment of R1.2-million.
CV
Spotlight on Cape Town fashion Local design stars take to the ramp for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town, at the CTICC from 25 to 28 July. The fashion establishment – including Craig Port, Hip Hop, Habits, Stefania Morland, Rosenwerth and Fabiani – will unveil their Spring/Summer 2012 collections, alongside newcomers to the AFI platform
A journey in jazz
Celeste Lee Arendse of Selfi, Robyn Victor of August Clothing, Tarien Malherbe of Non-European and Maloti Mothobi of Strato – as part of a project to develop and sustain the clothing and textile industry in the Western Cape. The designers were chosen for having the potential to mould their brands into sustainable business platforms.
Photo: Laleddo at Africa Fashion Week 2011
What aspects of Fashion Week are you most looking forward to this year? I’m looking forward to Fashion Week, and using iconic city buildings as show venues – an essential exercise for The Fringe in the lead up to Cape Town as 2014 World Design Capital. I’m also looking forward to the lineup of new designers showing in Cape Town for the first time. A CTFC panel of four designers and eight players in the clothing and textile industry selected five emerging designers – Pumeza Mekuto of Black Coal Clothing, CV
Thursday 5 July
Photo: Lisa Burnell
What is Cape Town Fashion Council’s involvement in MercedesBenz Fashion Week Cape Town this year? This year the CTFC is funding the Emerging Designer fashion show, showcasing designers who were involved in the CTFC Design Indaba Expo programme – so this is the obvious next step for their brands. The CTFC, together with Foschini and Africa Fashion International (AFI), will also be hosting fast-track entrepreneurial seminars targeted at graduates and startup designer brands. CV
Are any new CTFC initiatives in the pipeline? We’ve secured funding from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to help improve designer competitiveness. The three-year project kicks off in August and we hope to have 24 designers on the programme by the time it finishes. We’re also going to CV
be launching mentorships and international partnerships for our designer members in November, and we’ll launch preliminary trade show interventions early next year.
Catch the CTFC Emerging Designer showcase at Mercedes-Benz Cape Town Fashion Week at the CTICC at 15h30 on Friday 27 July. For more information visit www.afi.za.com. Cape Town Fashion Council Harrington House 37 Barrack Street T: 021 461 1498 www.ctfc.co.za
Connecting Cape Town to the National Arts Festival Athol Fugard’s latest play – The Blue Iris – takes to the stage at the Fugard Theatre this month, following a world premiere season at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
like Rachel de Mart, Adriaan Kuiters and Ruald Rheeder. Organisers African Fashion International (AFI) aim to increase the sustainability and global footprint of African fashion by creating platforms to showcase designers.
April July 2012
D
on’t despair if you didn’t make it to this year’s National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. The Fugard Theatre’s Eric Abraham in association with theatre aficionado Mannie Manim and the National Arts Festival are bringing Fugard’s The Blue Iris to Cape Town for a limited season. Directed by Janice Honeyman, and featuring Claire Berlein, Graham Weir and Lee-Ann van Rooi, the story is set in Fugard’s beloved Karoo and revolves around the gradual disintegration of a marriage, told through the reminiscences of a widowed farmer, and his wife’s loyal
companion and loyal farm worker. The Blue Iris runs at the Fugard Theatre from 4 to 28 July. Tickets cost between R110 and R140, and are available from the Fugard Theatre box office or via Computicket.
The Fugard Theatre Corner of Caledon and Lower Buitenkant Street T: 021 461 4554 www.thefugard.com
Opening night on Thursday 5 July features The Bridge – a big band contemporary jazz experience that links our musical heritage to the present. Directed by Cape Town jazz greats Kesivan Naidoo and Lee Thomson – founders of The Mahogany Room jazz club – and narrated by local actor David Isaacs, the spectacle will feature the likes of saxophonist Khaya Mahlangu and guitarist Errol Dyers, with guest appearances by Freshlyground vocalist Zolani Mahola and New York-based Morris Goldberg, who is in South Africa to take part in the Standard Bank Jazz Festival in Grahamstown.
Friday 6 July An instrumental experiment Closet Snare is set to bridge the gap between experimental noise, jazz, hip-hop and electronica, mixing up live instruments with machines and the 12-piece City Hall Chamber String Ensemble. Guest artists include Lark songbird Inge Beckmann, jazz pianist and Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner Bokani Dyer, and emcee EJ von Lyrik, whose style is a combo of funk, rock, dancehall, hip-hop and reggae. MXO featuring Joe Nina also take to the stage with an unconventional blend of hip-hop and township grooves.
Saturday 7 July A world away City Hall Sessions culminates in a double bill featuring legends of African groove, Madala Kunene and Caiphus Semenya. Rooted in ritual and tradition, Madala’s Maskanda guitar music blends blues and African folk and is known for its ethereal, transcendental quality. Caiphus returned from exile in the US in the 1990s after having collaborated with the likes of producer Quincy Jones, and is recognised as being one of the country’s foremost composers and directors.
Ticket prices range between R80 and R150, with substantial student discounts. Visit www.cityhallsessions.co.za for more information and bookings. Madala Kunene Photo: Rafs Mayet
4
July 2012
about
CityViews
town
5
The fashion ramp is on the streets Andrew Berry, Sean Sassen, Adriaan Louw and Mark de Menezes are the guys behind we-are-awesome.com, a city-based blog that documents the lives of Cape Town’s creative people, their styles and their spaces. We asked photographer Andrew to scour the streets of the CBD and snap a few of the awesome people he encountered …
W
e-are-awesome.com started around five years ago with Andrew and Sean looking to share the stories of their friends involved in Cape Town’s design, fashion and music scenes. At the time they didn’t have a particular creative outlet, so they decided to get a foot in the city’s creative scene by documenting what was going on around them. “We don’t really have criteria regarding the people we feature on the site. We like to showcase people who are comfortable with and confident about the way they present themselves,” says Andrew. “People who follow our blog appreciate well-crafted local products and considered places. We’ve created a platform upon which these products, places and the people who make them can be featured.”
LUNGILE KUNENE
Occupation: Fashion designer at Izembatho Creationsz Location: Harrington Street More information: izembathocreations@ gmail.com “Cape Town is the real place of gold. I wake up and look at Table Mountain and wonder if it’s real or if it’s wallpaper.”
NCOURT THOMAS DE MOYE
DARIO LEITE
Occupation: Finance student, DJ and music promoter Location: Myrtle Street More information: www.soundcloud.com/tdm “Cape Town style is a reflection of the diversity of its people.”
Occupation: Co-owner of A-store Location: Kloof Street More information: www.astoreisgood.com “Cape Town is a fashion phenomenon. With all the different people living and visiting here it’s hard to define a definite style because it’s always evolving. This makes for some great surprises.”
Like what you see? Visit www.we-are-awesome. com for more snapshots of Cape Town street style or email mail@we-are-awesome. com for more information. L LAURA WINDVOGE Occupation: Fashion designer and creator of Dear Dorothy Location: Long Street More information: www.dearestdorothy.tumblr.com “Cape Town style is multicultural and takes inspiration from multiple influences, just like the city itself.”
SHAKIR PRICE (AKA MR PRICE)
JORDAN METCALF
Occupation: Illustrator and graphic designer Location: Woodstock Industrial Centre More information: www.jordan-metcalf.com “Cape Town is an incredible and contradictory place.”
Occupation: Tailor Location: Long Street More information: 021 423 8300 “Cape Town style is generally casual but a lot of businessmen still wear suits that have been tailored by me.”
New shop on the block Ronit Yiacoumis, the owner of XOXO Clothing, a locally produced women’s clothing brand that recently set up shop on Buitengracht Street, tells us how she defines Cape Town style and why she loves working in the city: XOXO Clothing
“There are a lot of talented creative people in this town and they each have an individual flair for fashion which makes the city really interesting to browse and shop in. As an
Israeli who traveled the world as a flight attendant, I would call Cape Town the slipslop city because everyone wears them, even when they go for dinner at nice restaurants.”
XOXO Clothing 63 Buitengracht Street T: 021 424 0082 www.xoxoclothing.co.za
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xperience a slice of French-Canadian life by walking the cobblestone streets of De Waterkant and making like you’re in Montreal at 1 La Petite Tarte (76 Waterkant St, T: 021 425 9077),
Library (Darling and Parade, burger at 5 Royale Eatery CLO and entertain you with VEL E LY CLIVT: 021 422 4536). (273 Long St, T: 021 467 1500). Immerse traditional Mexican In the mood to shop? HotfootVAN yourself in a great American folk music. RYN EVIf ELjazz it to 6 Sportscene (Golden novel (ask the librarian for a is more your style, D Acre, T: 021 4174618) to pick recommendation) and then catch a performance by up a pair of Converse Chuck get up to speed on what’s city legends at the 8 Mahogony Room (79 Taylor’s, the all-American happening stateside by Buitenkant St, T: 076 679 sneaker. reading a few US newspapers H 2697). Just as Cape Town’s Come sundown, head south and magazines. S LLI ME If you’re hankering for more jazz tradition took inspiration to Mexico at 7 San Julian (3 Rose St, T: 021 419 4233), from US, this compact jazz Americana, get your fill of good where chef Ricardo Gardioclub takes inspiration from old-fashioned diner fare – think Aispur serves real-deal another famous institution: Cobb Salad and Sloppy Joe’s ARU AK Mexican fare. If you’re lucky, New York’s – at 4 Clarke’s (133 Bree St, M famous Village PE LAMBE RRicardo T T: 021 424 7648), or a gourmet will pick up his guitar Vanguard. D IXI A
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a quaint sidewalk café that serves French Mariage Frères tea and gateau. Then stroll off your brunch by heading uphill in the direction of the 2 Noon Day Gun (273 Longmarket EZ ISN GR St, T: 021 424 0529) to see views of the city that connects mountain and sea, similar in some respects to Vancouver. With American Independence Day around the corner, A LORIDway across town to make Fyour the American Corner at 3 Cape Town Central E
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ou don’t have to own a yacht to go from the Cape to Rio. Instead, start by shopping for handmade items from Columbia, Guatamala and Peru, at 1 Hadeda (3 Wandel St, T: 021 465 8620) in Gardens. Then learn capoeira – a martial art combining dance and music that can be traced back to African slaves in Brazil in the 16th century – at 2 Abadá Capoeira Cape Town (Tamboerskloof Primary, T: 083 506 6026). If you are planning to head to Rio de Janeiro for the 2014 World Cup, then head to the 3 Consulate of Brazil (22 Riebeeck St, T: 021 421 4040) for more information, before planning your trip over Columbian coffee at 4 Orinoco (17 Bree Street). That night, take in a Peruvian meal at 5 Keenwä (50 Waterkant St, T: 021 419 2633) before learning how to salsa at 6 Que Pasa (Caledon St, T: 021 465 0225). If Argentinian tango is more your style, you can Milonga de Verano – in the summer – at 7 De Waal Park, or Milonga el Abrazo – in an embrace – at 8 Cru Café (Cape Quarter, T:
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or an experience of Africa in Cape Town, consider starting at LEEUKOP 1 Table Mountain (T: 021 424 8181) the Watcher of the South. Then head to 2 Lekka Kombuis (81 Wale St, T: 079 957 0226) to learn a little Cape Malay cooking with Gamidah Jacobs (but remember it’s Ramadan coming up, so be sure to wish her a blessed month of fasting). Then walk down Long Street and stop by the 3 Pan African Market (76 Long St, T: 021 426 4478) or 4 Greenmarket Square (56 Shortmarket St) to pick up wares from African crafters, before K L OMusic OF STREET heading to the 5 African Store (134 Long St, T: 021 426 0857) for kwaito, hip-hop, gospel, reggae, jazz and soul from the continent. If, after this cultural immersion, you’re planning a little sub-Saharan travel, note that the 6 Angolan Embassy (Thibault Square, T: 021 425 8700), 7 Mozambican Consul (8 Burg St, T: 021 426 2944) and 8 Namibian Consulate (22 Riebeeck St, T: 021 419 2810) are all based in the CBD. If you’re hungry, feast at 9 Little Ethiopia (76 Shortmarket St, T: 021 424 8254) or, if TON your group is a larger BUXone at 10 Addis in Cape (41 Church St, T: 021 424 5927) – and be sure to order coffee, which comes with popcorn, incense and its own special ceremony. Wrap your evening up at 11 Chez Ntemba (4 Buiten St, T: 021 423 7575), which hosts Afro Thursdays – or an African film night at the 12 Labia (68 Orange St, T: 021 424 5927), or an African dance party at the 13 Kimberly Hotel (48 Roeland St, T: 021 461 2160). (Go to www. africanartsinstitute.org.za for details.)
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T: 021 425 1695), 10 Taipei Liaison Office (Standard Bank Centre, Heerengracht, T: 021 418 1188) and the 11 High Commission of India (34 Bree St, T: 021 419 8110) are all based in the CBD.
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1 Swiss (T: 021 400 75 00), Belgian (T: 021 419 4690) and Irish consulates (T: 021 419 0636) at Thibault Square or 2 Norwegian (8 Riebeeck St, T: 021 425 168) and 3 Lithuanian consulates (5 St George’s Mall, T: 021 406 9208). Did you know most Jewish South Africans can trace their lineage back to Eastern Europe? Intrigued? Then check out the 4 SA Jewish Museum’s (88 Hatfield St, T: 021 465 1546)
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R foot massage FOat 5 Happy Feet RE (Thibault Square, T: 021 425 IS 0000) before goingKto ER 6 South UC China Dim SumST(289 Long St, T:CH078 846 3656) for some APEL street food from Southeast Asia, Cape Town’s hole-in-the-wall sushi stop 7 Minato (4 Buiten St, T: 021 423 4712) or Korean grill at 8 Galbi (210 Long St, T: 021 424 3030). And keep in mind that if you are planning to travel, that the 9 Consul of Japan (Standard Bank Centre, Heerengracht,
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3 Masala Dosa (167 Long St, T: 021 424 6772). If that leaves you inspired, be sure to pick up a range of Indian spices from 4 Atlas Trading Company (94 Wale St, T: 021 423 4361) for use at home – and while you’re in the area, walk around the BoKaap, where many Capetonians of Indonesia and Malay descent continue to live. End your day off with a traditional Chinese
How would you arrange your day of diverse cultural experiences? Mail the editor at judith@capetownpartnership.co.za
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f you’d like to start the day in a state of serenity, then begin at the 1 Taj Hotel’s Jiva Spa ER(Wale St, T: 021 819 2000) YP KU your choice of ayurvedic for Y LE W treatments, or a meditation FA class at the 2 Art of Living (37 Harrington St, T: 083 301 3976). Then walk to your next location – keeping your eyes open for film crews, as the streets of
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full-scale reconstruction of a typical 1800s Lithuanian village (a shtetl). Pop past 5 Raith Gourmet (Mill and Buitenkant St, T: 021 465 2729) to stock up on bratwurst and sauerkraut before heading on to the 6 Ulrich Naumann Bookshop (15-19 Burg St, T: 021 423 7832) – and then cross the border to France at the 7 Alliance Française (155 Loop St, T: 021 423 5699), the place for all things French (including a weekly Friday food market and language lessons). Now that you’ve mastered French, why not take up Spanish? Enquire at the 8 Spanish Embassy (37 Shortmarket St, T: 021 422 2415). At 9 Mesopotamia (Church and Long St, T: 021 424 4664) and 10 Anatoli (24 Napier St, T: 021 419 2501) you can feast on Mediterranean or Kurdish fare while watching a belly dancer perform, or, if you’re watching your own waistline, experience an invigorating Turkish bath at 11 Long Street Baths (Long St, T: 021 400 3302). Since you’re in the Mediterranean, pop past the 12 Greek Consul (30 Hout St, T: 021 424 8160) and stop by 13 Maria’s (Barnet St, T: 021 461 3333) on Dunkley Square for spanakopita and tzatziki. Cruise on to the 14 Italian Consulate (2 Grey’s Pass, T: 021 487 3900) and 15 Dante Alighieri Society (14 Tuin Plein St, T: 021 465 8261)located nearby for information on language courses and local food and film festivals. Continue cruising until you reach the 16 Embassy of Portugal (Standard Bank Centre, Hertzog Boulevard, T: 021 418 0080) and if you’re still hungry, set foot in 17 Dias Tavern (15 Caledon St, T: 021 465 7547). Speaking of early explorers, connect with the Netherlands at the 18 Dutch Consulate General (100 Strand St, T: 021 421 5660) and round off exploring Cape Town’s European connections relaxing under the trees of the 19 Company’s Garden, formally established by Dutch settlers in 1652. HAMMERSCHLAG
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Nirit Saban & Tal Smith, Sababa The kitchen has always been the heart of the home for sisters Nirit Saban and Tal Smith who always knew they’d team up one day to spread their passion for fare that takes inspiration from their family’s Israeli roots.
These diverse food destinations and the people behind them prove that you don’t have to leave the city to satisfy a craving for culture
Mr Chai, Simply Asia Chaiphorn Lekcharoensuk – aka Mr Chai – visited Cape Town on honeymoon in 1991 and decided to make the city his home soon after. Now he’s the CEO of three Thai restaurant brands, including the city’s popular chain of Simply Asia Thai Food and Noodle Bars. CV Simply Asia’s menu draws on a variety of Thai culinary styles and traditions. Who taught you to cook, and how has your background influenced your style of cooking? I grew up in rural Thailand, east of Bangkok, and as the eldest of six children, I would often help my mom and aunts in the kitchen. Later I studied hotel and catering in Germany and learnt from some excellent chefs there, and the chefs at my restaurants continue to influence my style of cooking. CV How did the Simply Asia concept come about? I wanted to reach consumers who were on a budget, but still wanted to experience Thai cuisine in a sit-down restaurant environment, and to introduce them to healthy alternatives to the regular food choices they’re faced with on a day-to-day basis. CV Why did you decide to locate your first Simply Asia outlet on Shortmarket Street? We launched here to see how people would take to the menu and concept. It’s a very cosmopolitan part of town, with a mix of people and cultures, and a variety of good places to eat. CV How does the Simply Asia menu reflect Thai culture? Our menu features simple dishes that people eat everyday in Thailand. The soups and noodle dishes are typical Thai street food to eat on the go, or you can sit down
and order a few different dishes for the table to share. Our recipes are true to their Thai roots, subtly flavoured with fresh herbs and spices, but sometimes we tweak them to suit local tastes by tempering spices to make a dish milder, or adding chilli to give it more bite. CV Which traditional Thai dishes are most popular with locals? Geang Khew-Wan, a green curry with chicken, coconut milk, broccoli, cauliflower and basil; Tom Yum Goong, a soup with prawns and mushrooms flavoured with Tom Yum paste; and Phad Thai, a stir-fry with Phad Thai sauce, served with rice noodles and topped with peanuts, bean sprouts and lemon.
CV What does the word “sababa” mean? Sababa is Hebrew slang for everything is awesome. We chose the name because it has a nice ring to it and it’s a play on our surname, Saban.
Photo: Lisa Burnell
“Our menu features simple dishes that people eat everyday in Thailand. The soups and noodle dishes are typical Thai street food to eat on the go, or you can sit down and order a few different dishes for the table to share.”
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CV How has your background and family influenced your style of cooking? Our mother’s family was originally from Eastern Europe, and our dad’s from North Africa, so we grew up surrounded by a combination of Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jewish cultures. Our parents grew up in Israel, and we’ve both spent time living there, so there’s a strong Israeli connection too.
What is the concept behind Sababa Kitchen and Deli? The food at Sababa is the same as the food we eat at home. The concept is simple: healthy Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern home cooking inspired by our family’s traditions and our travels. At our parents’ house everything happens around the kitchen table, and it’s the same at Sababa. CV
“We stumbled upon our premises by chance and we love it here. The area is a great mix of old industrial workshops and new eateries doing great things. The area is flowering and people are saying that Bree is Long Street for grown-ups.”
Our customers congregate around our table; it’s how we bring people together and share our culture. CV How has your menu evolved to suit the tastes of your customers? Most of our regular customers want a healthy lunch to eat on the run, so our menu changes everyday. We always have a selection of salads; vegetarian, meat, fish and chicken dishes; soups, cakes and pastries. Traditionally our food is spicy and full of flavour, but we’ve had to cut down on the amount of garlic we use, as some of our customers are sensitive to it. Our sesame chicken schnitzel is very popular, as well as our borrekitas, Sephardi pies filled with cheese or spinach; homemade humus with zatar – a spice we import from Israel – and the dolmades we import from Turkey. When anyone in our family travels they return with suitcases full of food. On Thursday nights we celebrate Israel’s favourite street food – falafel – and everyone gets involved choosing their favourite toppings, and over Jewish festivals we’ll cook traditional foods like chicken soup – aka Jewish Penicillin – with kneidlach, or matzah balls, over Passover.
Sababa Kitchen and Deli 231 Bree Street 021 424 7480 Open Monday to Friday 07h00 to 17h00, Thursdays from 19h00 to 22h00 www.sababa.co.za
CV Apart from the day-to-day operations at Simply Asia, are you involved in any other initiatives that help to promote Thai culture? We import ingredients and employ chefs from Thailand. We often work together with the Thai Embassy to promote Thailand and Thai cuisine by participating in various cooking demonstrations and trade shows, like the Thailand Trade Show that recently took place at the CTICC.
Simply Asia 96 Shortmarket Street T: 021 426 4347 Open Monday to Saturday 11h30 to 22h00, Sundays 11h00 to 21h00 www.simplyasia.co.za
Photo: Lisa Burnell
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Nirit Saban & Tal Smith
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Luca Castiglione, Limoncello
Photo: Lisa Burnell
Luca Castiglione brought the authentic taste of Southern Italy to Cape Town 12 years ago when he threw open the doors to his bustling restaurant, Limoncello.
Zaida Booley, Café Zorina Café Zorina was the city’s first eatery to serve traditional home-style Indian and Cape Malay cuisine, and 52 years on it’s still going strong. CV What is the history of the café? My mother Yasmina and my late father Achmad started Café Zorina – and named it after my eldest sister – in 1960. Back then the café was half the size of what it is today. My parents lived nearby on Buiten Street and my mother would cook at home and supply food to factories. Twenty years later, in 1980, my father bought and renovated the building, and my sister and I took over running the place a few years later.
How has your family’s heritage influenced your style of cooking? My mother spent a lot of time in the kitchens of her Indian friends and neighbours and she learnt to cook by watching them prepare curries and other traditional dishes. These recipes were never written down, and we still serve the same dishes we used to eat at home at the café today – mutton, mince and sugar bean curries served with rotis; samoosas, koeksisters and milk tarts. CV
CV How has your menu evolved over the years? Before my parents opened the café they took a trip to Durban and Johannesburg. In Durban they discovered bunny chow,
“We’ve always catered for the city’s diverse cultures, not only our community. Our customers include doctors, lawyers and businesspeople from all around the city. Some of them have been coming here since they were children and my mom has watched many of them grow up.” a scooped-out loaf of bread filled with curry, and they brought the concept back home to Cape Town. Café Zorina was the first restaurant to serve bunny chow here and it was so popular people started calling my brother Bunny. Our curries are mild so most people enjoy them and the recipes haven’t changed. Over festival times like Eid we usually prepare special dishes like roast leg of lamb and corned beef.
CV What makes your food unique? Through travelling I’ve expanded my repertoire to include dishes to please Italian and South African palettes. I’ve been to the East, Australia, the States, South America … and I’ve picked up a few things that have influenced my cooking, although we’re very traditional at the restaurant. For the first six or seven years we wouldn’t serve chilli and garlic on the side, until eventually we gave in. We still refuse to put avocado, banana or pineapple on pizza though.
You recently launched the Limoncello food truck, which is like a restaurant on wheels that can pop up anywhere. How does it work? It’s based on the food truck culture that is currently big in the USA. We’ll pitch the truck wherever and let people know where we are using Twitter and Facebook. We went all out in building the truck with a big stove and oven and all the equipment we need to do everything we do in the restaurant. CV
CV Do you need a special food truck licence to operate in the city? For now, we’re only going to places we’re allowed to go. We can be on any private property, so markets aren’t a problem. At Oudekraal we don’t need a permit, which is why we’ve started the Wednesday food truck gatherings there. There are no laws regarding food trucks yet; we can’t operate under a hawker’s licence because it allows you to be on the pavement, and food trucks don’t exactly fit on the pavement. We’re in the process of engaging with council to address the permit issue. Council recognises the value food trucks can bring to tourism and the economy; they’re cheaper to set up than restaurants; they’re greener and they provide a service where none exists.
Limoncello 8 Breda Street T: 021 461 5100 Open Monday to Friday 12h00 to 15h00, Monday to Saturday 18h00 to 23h00 www.limoncello.co.za Follow the Limoncello food truck on Twitter (@CTFoodTrucks) or Facebook for regular updates on its whereabouts.
CV Has the nature of your business changed over the years? Café Zorina hasn’t changed much, but the members of our family have gone on to do different things. I still run the café as well as a baking business that supplies many retail outlets, Ziada Booley Bakes; my sister Zorina runs a restaurant in the Bo-Kaap, and my brother Yusuf’s wife runs another branch of Café Zorina in Paarden Island.
“I love Cape Town’s food culture because you can get any type of food, and usually the best of what you’re looking for. There’s so much on offer that people can choose a restaurant based on one particular dish!”
Café Zorina 172 Loop Street T: 021 424 9301 Open Monday to Friday 08h30 to 17h30, Saturdays 09h00 to 14h30
Photo: Cape Town Food Trucks
Zaida Booley and her mother Yasmina Sallie
CV What sort of food does Limoncello serve? I’m from Naples so we cook Southern Italian food, which is a little bit more Mediterranean than typical Italian food and features a lot of fish. We’re known for our fresh fish, especially our mussels and calamari; we also do seafood pastas and risottos based on our fresh fish of the day.
Luca Castiglione
Sam Kelly, Lee Doig and Luca Castiglione are Cape Town Food Trucks, a company that specialises in coordinating the sourcing, design and management of food trucks. “Food Trucks bring fine food to the street and other hot spots. They’re mobile restaurants run by passionate chefs. The movement is driven by social media – we tweet or place updates on Facebook to let our fans know where we’re going to be.
People even tweet or SMS their orders to us before they come,” says Sam. “We’re in the process of engaging with council to address the issue of permits. Council appreciates the value we could bring to tourism and the economy; food trucks are cheaper to set up than restaurants and they’re greener.”
Other food trucks to follow: The Soft Machine serves soft-serve ice cream in exotic flavours: @thesoftmachine1
Cape Town Food Trucks T: 082 502 3014 www.capetownfoodtrucks.co.za
Durban’s Finest Curry makes the real-deal Durban curry and bunny chow: @durbfinestcurry
Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour serves magical infusions of organic looseleaf teas: @Lady_Bonin
Photo: Cape Town Food Trucks
Hot on the food truck trail
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We live in the Central City
Explore Zanele and Zodwa’s kind of Cape Town for yourself Bread, Milk and Honey 10 Spin Street T: 021 461 8425
Zanele Kumalo, features editor at Marie Claire magazine, and her sister, freelance writer and new mom Zodwa Kumalo-Valentine, have lived in cities around SA, but they recently chose to relocate to Cape Town. CV Why did you decide to relocate to Cape Town? Zanele: We’ve lived in practically every province in SA except Limpopo and the Northern Province. Last year I moved to Barcelona for six months and when I returned I knew I wouldn’t be happy anywhere else but Cape Town. Zodwa: My husband and I left Cape Town to work in Johannesburg in 2004 and we always wanted to move back here. We love the pace here, living and working in the city, and what it has to offer in terms of lifestyle. CV Where in the city do you stay? Zanele: I live in the heart of the city centre overlooking Greenmarket Square because I don’t want to lose the lifestyle I had in Spain, being able to pop down to a coffee shop anytime and being a part of the hum of the city. Zodwa: We moved here in October last year and a friend found us a spacious flat in Zonnebloem. As a family of four we needed a big space on a tight budget and our flat ticked both those boxes, so we’ll stay here until we find a home to buy.
What are some of the things that make the city special? Zanele: Aside from the obvious and incredible beauty of Table Mountain – I still catch myself staring at it from my desk – I love travelling and meeting people from all over the world, and in Cape Town there are so many opportunities to engage with for-
Church 12 Spin Street T: 021 462 6092 www.churchgifts.blogspot.com Deckle Edge 130 Sir Lowry Road T: 021 180 4442 www.deckleedge.co.za Deer Park Café 2 Deer Park Avenue T: 021 462 6311
What has your experience of Capetonians been like? Zanele: So far most of the friends I’ve made here weren’t born or raised here. Zodwa: Capetonians love people much more than they need them. There isn’t a desperate clamouring of folks trying to make friends because there are so many things you can do here without a group of friends. CV
Do you consider Cape Town to be a diverse city? Zanele: A city and a country can be diverse without being inclusive. Cape Town is diverse but it’s still segregated. Zodwa: Diversity can be measured in so many different ways. It’s about creativity as well as culture. In terms of creativity, Cape Town is a smorgasbord, but in terms of diversity, it’s perhaps not quite so much as Johannesburg. CV Where do you go to relax in the city? Do you have a favourite secret spot? Zanele: A walk on Sea Point Promenade or Lion’s Head, or I have a recliner in my lounge and when the sun streams in, it’s my favourite place to decompress.
Hemelhuijs 71 Waterkant Street T: 021 418 2402 www.hemelhuijs.co.za
Zanele Kumalo and Zodwa Kumalo-Valentine outside Church in Spin Street
“When I’m away from Cape Town I miss the smell of the sea, everything being less than a five-minute drive away, artisanal shopping, the quality of the food and the diverse restaurant offerings.” Zodwa Kumalo-Valentine
Zodwa: With two little ones, home is best, but we love the park at Deer Park Café. CV What are your favourite places to eat in and around the city? Zanele: We love the dim sum
at South China Dim Sum; Chef Pon’s for Thai, and Narona for the best pizza and ribs in an unassuming and relaxed atmosphere. Zodwa: Bread, Milk and Honey for coffee and a catch-up with a friend; Sevruga for dim sum and sushi, and Hemelhuijs for their poached eggs with artichoke hearts and hollandaise sauce. Where are some of your favourite places to shop? Zanele: Art was my major at university so I buy my supplies at the Deckle Edge in Woodstock, and for local fashion I shop on Long Street. Zodwa: Church because they stock my favourite magazine – The Gentlewoman – and have great gift ideas, Mr and Mrs on Kloof, and Mungo and Jemima. CV
Mr and Mrs 98 Kloof Street T: 021 424 4387 www.mrandmrs.co.za Mungo and Jemima 108 Long Street 021 424 5016 www.mungoandjemima.com Narona 136 Buitenkant Street T: 021 465 8111 www.narona.co.za Sevruga Shop 4, Quay 5 V&A Waterfront T: 021 421 5134 www.sevruga.co.za South China Dim Sum Bar 289 Long Street T: 078 846 3656
Retelling the stories of our streets Named after people, places and produce, there’s a story behind every Cape Town street.
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Peter Hart and his new book, A Bowlful of Names.
Photo: Lisa Burnell
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Chef Pon’s Asian Kitchen 12 Mill Street T: 021 465 5846
eigners and be exposed to different ways of thinking. Zodwa: I love how people get on with things here. You see wonderful little business ventures popping up all over the place – from design, to décor, to food – there’s a real entrepreneurial spirit amongst the young people here.
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July 2012
Photo: Lisa Burnell
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f, like author Peter Hart, you’ve ever wondered where Cape Town’s street names come from, you’ll love his new book: A Bowlful of Names. Published by the Historical Society of Cape Town, it explains the origins of the names some of the city’s most interesting streets and lanes. “Did you know that Spin Street is named after what was once a silk-spinning factory between Plein Street and Parliament Street?” asks Peter, a retired univer-
sity lecturer and university librarian who was awarded the Mayor’s Medal for Cultural Affairs, after having explored the city on foot and penned no less than five books on its streets.
Pick up a copy of A Bowlful of Names at Clarke’s Books, or for more information contact Peter Hart on 021 685 3498.
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Retelling the stories of our continent A local publication about Africa by Africans is a platform for free ideas and political reflection. Chimurenga is an annual panAfrican publication of writing, art and politics. Based at the Pan African Market on Long Street, it was founded ten years ago by editor Ntone Edjabe as a vehicle to promote African literature and
Liberating a language CV What is your personal connection to Afrikaans and how did your background inspire you to become involved in the Afrikaaps project?
I grew up in Kuilsriver and Durbanville and my parents spoke Afrikaans, as did their parents, but my sister and I were raised in English. Afrikaans was always there in the background so I was excited when the project came along. The documentary is my representation of the journey of the Afrikaaps theatre show. It’s about what happened behind the scenes and it covers all the historical and anecdotal content that the show does.
What was the theatre show about?
the 1600s as a creole dialect, when slaves and indigenous people were speaking Dutch, so it’s ludicrous to think that the Kaaps dialect of Afrikaans is somehow less than official Afrikaans. And most importantly, the language belongs to everyone who speaks it, not just Afrikaners.
“Cape Town is super-diverse: our history, our people, our music, our landscape. We just need to build more bridges across this diversity to create more social cohesion.”
CV
Basically a group of local artists, poets and musicians – Kyle Shepherd, Emile from Black Noise, Shane Cooper, Moenier Adams, Bliksemstraal, Jitsvinger, Jethro Louw and Blaq Pearl – and director Catherine Henegan and dramaturg Aryan Kaganof, created a stage production that traces the roots of Afrikaans and aims to reclaim and reframe the language.
How would you sum up the message of Afrikaaps? CV
The message is that there is no pure or suiwer Afrikaans. The language started in the Cape in
How effective has the show and documentary been as a means of changing the way that everyday Capetonians think about Afrikaans? CV
It’s been a revelation for people who have never heard this side of the story of Afrikaans, and for others it’s affirmed the legitimacy of their mother tongue. In the documentary one of the kids who goes to see the live show says, “I won’t be ashamed to speak the way that I do anymore” and that’s been the best kind of response. I think people are ready for this sort of questioning
of history to come out. It’s time for South Africans to rethink our prescribed identities.
Are you aware of any current plans to elevate the level of Kaaps Afrikaans to that of suiwer Afrikaans? CV
Someone who publishes an Afrikaans dictionary wrote to the director of the show, Catherine Henegan, to say that they are going to include more Kaaps words in it, and a symposium on Kaaps is taking place this month, so it seems that the language is getting more recognition now as a legitimate dialect, not only as a street language. CV Do you and the rest of the Afrikaaps crew intend to continue spreading the story of Afrikaans as a language of liberation?
There’s a lot of work to be done on the Cape Flats in terms of spreading the message and there’s more stuff in the pipeline so watch this space. Siendjy!
Find Dylan on Twitter (@dylan_valley) and purchase a copy of his documentary at Clarke’s Bookshop (211 Long Street, T: 021 423 5739) or the African Music Store (134 Long Street, T: 021 426 0857).
Clarke’s Books 211 Long Street T: 021 423 5739 The African Music Store 134 Long Street T: 021 426 0857 The Book Lounge 71 Roeland Street T: 021 462 2425 Blank Books 368 Albert Road
Photo: Supplied by Chimurenga
Dylan Valley at Little Ethiopia on Shortmarket Street
Explore Chimurenga online here: www.chimurenga.co.za or pick up a copy of it or their latest offering, Chimurenganyana, at:
Photo: Lisa Burnell
Woodstock-based filmmaker Dylan Valley explains how the Afrikaaps project is helping to reframe and reclaim the most spoken language in the Western Cape.
exchange between African artists. It’s expanded since then to incorporate the organisation of and participation in ongoing cultural and literary activities, as well as the publishing of a range of books and periodicals, in print and online.
Mabu Vinyl 2 Rheede Street T: 021 423 7645
Retelling the history of our city Dylan Valley also took part in The Callings, an intervention that recently took place on the streets of the CBD.
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he Callings formed part of the Exuberance Project, an event organised by the Gordon Institute for Performing and Creative Arts in collaboration with the Centre for African Studies and the Michaelis Gallery at UCT. Produced by Nicole Sarmiento, Memory Biwa and Tazneem Wentzel, fifteen artists collaborated to produce a walking production about the city and slavery – incorporating music, dance, poetry, performance and video installations. Nicole Sarmiento explains: “We were inspired by projects such as the Pan African Space Station
and Infecting the City, that help us forge new imaginary and sensual/ sensorial maps of our urban environment ... We are interested in exploring rituals of memory, and how traces, bodies and fragments get remembered, buried, retold, imagined, mythologised and embodied. We are interested in what gets told, but also and even more so, in what gets left out.”
To see footage from The Callings visit https://vimeo. com/43386284.
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My Cape Town: Ed Suter CV What makes Cape Town’s city centre so diverse? The city centre is one of the few places in Cape Town where people of many different nationalities rub shoulders. It’s also one of the areas of Cape Town where most people get around on foot and you can see diversity all around you – hear the many different languages being spoken, and see the variety of fabrics and colours worn by pedestrians.
Photographer Ed Suter’s new book – Sharp Sharp, South Africa Street Style – celebrates the diversity of downtown SA, and the art, fashion and attitude that makes our streets the dynamic places they are.
Photo: Lisa Burnell
CV Are there any areas that you find particularly interesting? The area at the bottom end of Longmarket Street is a real mixture of shops and traders, different nationalities and good public spaces to watch everyone go by from. I like the buzz around the Earth Fair Food Market in St George’s Mall on a Thursday, with more people walking and riding bikes. And some of my favourite sightings have been the Somalian wedding parties I’ve come across in the Company’s Garden.
Ed Suter
“Perhaps what unites us is an understanding that in order to keep the city centre interesting, you have to do more than just drive in and out of it everyday. I hope that a sense of the city being as good as those who live in it will ultimately unite us.”
The Haven’s vision is to get the homeless home. 021 425 4700 The Homestead provides residential care and family integration for boys. 021 461 7470 Straatwerk has job rehabilitation projects for men and women. 021 425 0140 Salesian Institute Youth Projects provide education, skills training and rehabilitation to vulnerable youth. 021 425 1450
Ons Plek provides residential care while undertaking reunification process for girls. 021 465 4829 The Carpenters Shop provides rehabilitation services and skills training for adults. 021 461 5508
CV How did you go about capturing images for Sharp Sharp? By walking as much as possible. My book celebrates the South African street and the only way to discover the streets is to get out and walk them. I approached people who caught my eye and very quickly tried to get them to agree to be photographed against a background that was close by and interesting to be photographed against. In Cape Town a lot of the street art I photographed was outside the city centre because it can be difficult for artists to do their art here in the city centre. I discovered street graphics in the unlikeliest of places and I kept revisiting favourite streets where the signage changed all the time. CV How did Capetonians respond to being photographed for the book? As a rule most people seemed flattered and happy to be photographed. Occasionally people said no, which is understandable – not everyone feels comfortable being photographed in a public place by a
total stranger – but there were some people who said no who I still think about and wish I’d photographed and included in the book. Is Cape Town as diverse as Johannesburg and Durban? Joburg feels more cosmopolitan, with citizens from across Africa living and working in the city centre, and there’s a real buzz to the streets and an excitement about being at the centre of what’s developing. In Durban there’s a trend towards an interesting combination of traditional dress and contemporary fashion. Cape Town is definitely diverse but it feels more stratified. CV
CV Is there something unique that unites Capetonians? A Cape Town style? That’s quite difficult to answer. There are small style tribes but what underpins a lot of what Capetonians wear is a style that’s casual with a twist. It’s a bit unconventional. Perhaps what unites us is an understanding that in order to keep the city centre interesting, you have to do more than just drive in and out of it everyday. I hope that a sense of the city being as good as those who live in it will ultimately unite us.
What do you love most about living in the city? I stay in Gardens and I love that most days to get into town I walk across De Waal Park, the Company’s Garden and down St George’s Mall. It’s pedestrianised almost all the way. I like using Government Avenue as my main thoroughfare and taking my daughters to the museums there on their skateboards. The fact that I see colours and fabrics from across Africa on our city streets always makes me smile, and I love the re-
April July 2012
sourcefulness and creativity of a lot of people I know in the city. CV Your favourite places to eat, drink and play in the city centre? I like to get coffee at Bean There on Wale Street, a drink at Tjing Tjing on Longmarket Street; burgers at The Dogs Bollocks on Roodehek Street, and to see films at The Labia. After seeing Sonar at City Hall, I would love to see more gigs there.
What does the Cape Town CBD taste and smell like to you? Those red skinned peanuts you get from street vendors. CV
Experience Ed’s Cape Town for yourself by walking to his favourite city spots: Earth Fair Food Market Upper St George’s Mall, off Wale and Church Street Thursdays 11h00 to 15h00
www.earthfairmarket.co.za Bean There 58 Wale Street T: 087 943 2228
www.beanthere.co.za
CV
Tjing Tjing 165 Longmarket Street T: 021 422 4920
www.tjingtjing.co.za The Dog’s Bollocks 6 Roodehek Street T: 083 440 7843
The Labia 68 Orange Street T: 021 424 5927
www.labia.co.za
Ed’s book retails for around R275 and is available from bookstores around the city, or you can contact Quivertree Publishing (T: 021 461 6808) for more information.
Many children and young adults living on the streets have severe drug addiction problems. More often than not, the money they receive from begging is used to buy their next “fix”. The CCID therefore requests that members of the public do not give money or handouts directly. If you would like to help, please contact one of the listed organisations mentioned. Contact the Central City Improvement District’s (CCID’s) Social Development Department for further information or assistance.
Pat 021 419 1881 | Dean 082 928 3862 Headman Sirala-Rala 082 262 0113 Mark Williams 082 262 0112
www.capetownpartnership.co.za