Soweto Inside Out

Contents

Introduction Adam Roberts 1

My Soweto Joe Thloloe 21

The cover: Kasie Art Sam Nhlengethwa 35

There shall be art! Darryl Accone 39

Growing up in Soweto Ruth Bhengu 43

Journos Doc Bikitsha 48

God’s sailboat Fred Bridgland 53

Five Roses Bowl Audrey Brown 58

Running through Soweto Tim Butcher 63

After the Bang-Bang Club Rory Carroll 67

The fabled rabbi Sarah Crowe 71

Betty’s Joint Nicol Degli Innocenti 75

The celebrations have fallen quiet Anne Dissez 79

Christmas Eve John Dludlu 83

The Pelican Club Richard Dowden 87

Queer Soweto Mark Gevisser 91

An adventure in technicolour Anne Hammerstad 100

Death in Soweto Heidi Holland 104

From Gwelo to Soweto Michael Holman 108

Rugby Dominic Hughes 112

Dolly’s house in Orlando West Nicole Itano 116

Time to shine up Aggrey Klaaste 120

A night with December Mark Klusener 125

Wrestling James Lamont 130

Da Revulsion won’t be televised: Fighting for the right to funk it up Bongani Madondo 134

Bomvana Mongadi Mafata 140

Mother and daughter Pearl Majola 144

Dube Boxing Club Stephane Mayoux 149

Through my parents’ eyes Nokuthula Mazibuko 152

Tell me, where do you come from? Sandile Memela 156

How I hate the place Eric Miyeni 162

Coming from the country Phangisile Mtshali 164

Speakiteasy days Peter Nkomo 168

Weekend traffic Mfanasibili Nkosi 172

Kgosietsile’s haircut Milton Nkosi 175

But I live in Soweto Elizabeth Ohene 181

Three views from afar Justin Pearce 185

Township golf Marcus Prior 189

Jumping for joy Ofeibea Quist-Arcton 193

There goes the neighbourhood Jon Qwelane 198

Passbook Gugulakhe Radebe 201

A classic township Adam Roberts 204

North of the Limpopo Simon Robinson 210

In the fifties Anthony Sampson 214

Of knives and cold showers Diago Segola 218

Never again: the story of a beloved son Charlene Smith 223

Windows wide shut Christina Stucky 231

Getting a new perspective Nicholas Williamson 235

Acknowledgements 238

Further reading 239