​The City of Johannesburg’s Transport Department and the Brixton community transformed streets of the suburb into captivating wonderland of creativity in the Brixton Light Festival, which attracted over 3 000 residents and festival-goers on the corner of Barnes Road and Esher Street on Saturday, 02 September 2023. This year’s festival, themed ‘Where Water Meets Light’, brought sparks into the streets of Brixton as residents celebrated and experienced the vibrancy of the iconic neighbourhood.

Family and friends were treated to captivating performances by the National Youth Orchestra, the Local Vocal, the North West University Brass Ensemble, Windybrow Choir, Well Worn Theatre Company, and many others.

Johannesburg Water made its presence felt by educating the residents about the water cycle, the importance of conserving water and encouraging residents to stop pollution.

Mbongiseni Masuku, the Event Organiser from the City of Johannesburg’s Transport Department, expressed delight at the turnout. He said the Brixton Light Festival aligned with the department’s objectives of promoting non-motorised transport and allowing residents to “own” the streets.

“The Brixton Festival forms part of the City of Johannesburg’s Open Streets festivals that encourages residents to use streets for pedestrians and not just cars,” said Masuku.

The festival painted key buildings and street with breathtaking light installations that created a warm and joyful atmosphere.

​One of the standout installations featured beautifully crafted ships by David Gara with meditative and visually intriguing performance that drew the audience to become part of the artwork itself.

The festival also offered a variety of local markets selling local produce, traditional food and drinks.

Mark Schaere, one of the co-organisers, said they were celebrating the uniqueness of the community and fostering a sense of unity and pride among its members. “The main goal was to bring the community together, highlighting its uniqueness and promote a sense of belonging and pride among its residents.”

Jadon Josephs, who attended the festival for the first time, said he enjoyed the parade and felt safe. “I had such a wonderful time! It was fantastic to see our community come together, and I really appreciated the efforts made to ensure our safety during the event.”

Written by Getrude Mamabolo

04/09/2023