Soweto, South Africa
Former Home of Mandela and Tutu- now a Vibrant Township Experience
2007 Grammy winners, The Soweto Gospel Choir reflects the hopes and dreams of the people of Soweto, South Africa, who will embrace you with warmth when you visit them.
A Grammy comes to Soweto, former home of Mandela and Tutu
The Soweto Gospel Choir has just won the 2007 Grammy Award in the Best Traditional World Music category for their second album Blessed.
The 26-strong choir, under the direction of David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryer, hail from churches and communities in and around Soweto in South Africa, and are all lead singers in their own community choirs. Their latest release is African Spirit, produced by the British born composer and producer Robin Hogarth.
Soweto 1976
Most people know Soweto as a place of unset and violence, because that is how it burst into world headlines in 1976 when its youth decided that they had had enough of apartheid oppression and took to the streets in protest,. They met head on with armed police. The young Hector Pietersen was one of the first casualties. The Soweto kids lit a fire that day on 26 June 1976 that spread across South Africa and signaled the beginning of the end for the apartheid regime.
Soweto today is the most populous black urban residential area in South Africa butted up, side by side to formerly white Johannesburg; home to close on a million people.From the get-go the township was a product of segregationist planning. In 1963 t the acronym, Soweto, was adopted as the official name for the South Western Townships.
Soweto, former home of Mandela and Tutu
The area was home to many political, sporting and social luminaries, including former President Nelson Mandela and former Archbishop Desmond Tutu - two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, who once lived in the now famous Vilakazi Street in Orlando West.
This must be the first stop in your Soweto visit. After you’ve been to Mandela’s museum and Tutu’s house, have something to eat at a local restaurant and walk down the street to the Hector Pietersen Memorial.
Soweto is also the home to three of South Africa’s most famous professional soccer clubs, Kaizer Chiefs (Amakhosi), Orlando Pirates (Bucs) and Morocca Swallows (Birds).There is nothing quite like a local derby - it is something any sports fan must experience.
For some spiritual upliftment, go to Regina Mundi if you visit Soweto – this large Catholic church played a pivotal role in the Struggle against apartheid and was spiritual home and a refuge for many Sowetans.
After a visit to the Apartheid Museum at Gold Reef City, (just on the outskirts) you will need to restore your faith in humankind. So put on your glad rags and get ready to experience Soweto by nite.
Dance the night way in slick, classy night spots or go on a shebeen crawl and make some new local friends over too many quarts of Black Label beer or even some home brew. If you're into jazz you'll find great local musos playing at the taverns and clubs.
East, drink and have a blast
Most restaurants and taverns serve local fare like samp and beans, pap (stiff maize porridge) and meat, chakalaka (spicy kind of chutney) but you’ll always find some kind of meat, chicken and salads and bread on the menu so don’t worry too much about not getting food you can eat.
If you’re into celeb spotting, you have to go to Wandies in Dube – even Richard Branson has been spotted there, and reports are that the boutique hotel connected to the eatery is not just a good place to stay, it is also very convenient for meetings and conferences.
You can visit Soweto on a day tour, a half-day tour or hire your own guide or you can stay over in one of the many tasteful B&Bs or even at the Lebo's backpackers lodge.
Soweto may be gritty and brassy at times. You also may well be overwhelmed by the poverty and need, but you will find the people warm and friendly and welcoming and you will hear their hope and faith reflected in the music of The Soweto Gospel Choir.
Other Southern African destinations:
Diving with Sharks in South Africa
If you have an interest in pan African culture and politics you'll have to visit
Goree Island Senegal
Accra, Ghana
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