Happy New Year From Jozi

2Summers | 31 December 2010
johannesburg apartheid music Newtown

On the last day of 2010, Joe and I went down to the city center to monitor the Zimbabwe situation (which had died down significantly since yesterday) and to check out the Joburg Carnival.

There were no rides or carnival games – “carnival” means “parade” in South Africa. The theme of the parade was “Jozi my Jozi,” Jozi being another nickname for Johannesburg.

I have no idea what the theme of this float was. But the coolest thing about it was that the guys driving it spun it around the intersection several times before continuing on. I almost got run over while photographing it.

It was a small parade with only a handful of spectators. There were a few floats, manned mostly by small children and high school students thrilled to encounter someone who wanted to take their photo. But it was a good excuse to go downtown on a sunny day.

A group of students march past a post-apartheid housing project in Newtown, downtown Joburg. The parade is a nice opportunity to see parts of the city that might not be totally safe to visit on a normal day.

So, as the final hours of 2010 tick down, I’d like to thank you all for for reading my blog and following along on this wild ride. It’s been quite a year. And fortunately my second summer will continue well into 2011.

Me and a statue of Brenda Fassie, a legendary South African singer and hooligan. The Bassline is a historic music venue in Joburg. It used to be in Melville but moved to Newtown several years ago. Joe and other Melvillites are still mourning its relocation.

Happy New Year!