In photos: The Brixton Light Festival
The event brought some joy with creative displays, music and theatre to Joburg’s inner city streets
After a trying week for the residents of Johannesburg in which at least 77 people died in a devastating fire at an inner-city building, the Brixton Light Festival brought some much-needed relief to the city on Saturday.
The annual community-led festival is organised by residents of Brixton and was free to the public. The festival features live performances of theatre and music, with art and lights displayed in different public spaces in the suburb.
Joburgers from all walks of life enjoyed themselves in the streets which were closed off to traffic and turned into an open theatre in celebration of Brixton’s creative spirit.
The Isegazini Theatre Group performed a powerful show that dealt with environmental issues and climate change, while Exotically Divine Pulse entertained the crowd by performing in brightly-coloured costumes and props made entirely of recycled waste materials.
Children occupied the Kingston Frost Park’s swings and jungle gyms which were lit up in colours while the National Youth Orchestra blew the crowd away with their brass instruments.
ALSO READ: SA act Nakhane is the darling of the UK summer festivals
In the evening a street parade got underway through Brixton’s streets, with various art installations to be seen along the route while a choir from the Hillbrow-based Windybrow choir serenaded festival goers.
Joy, creativity, and the power of community activism were on full display, a welcome change from the trauma experienced in the city a few days earlier.
