MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

Prime: 3rd Year Birthday Event

From what started out in April 2023 at Hallmark House to where things are, we can’t wait to see what the next 5 to 10 years has in store for our us and our plans with you.

We’re keeping details hush hush for now but do make sure to get your tickets now via the link in bio.

As always, know to expect a mixed genre event featuring a hip hop and R&B foundation.

Follow @primetime_za_ on ig for more updates 🙂

Please note:

Any persons who enter the venue, or attends this event – agrees in doing so at their own risk.

We, the organizers and the establishment, will not be held liable for any loss, damage, injury or death. By purchasing this ticket you’re agreeing to accept both the risk and responsibility of keeping yourself and your belongings safe.

MyZA Events

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Sophiatown: The Lost “Paris of the Transvaal”

Sophiatown’s golden age was the 1940s and 50s. It was a dense, vibrant, and often dangerous neighborhood, characterized by “backyard” rooms, shebeens (illegal speakeasies), and a sophisticated social scene. It was the birthplace of Kwaito’s ancestors and the legendary “Marabi” music—a blend of traditional African rhythms and American ragtime. The streets were home to the most iconic figures of African literature and music: Miriam Makeba found her voice here; Hugh Masekela received his first trumpet from a local priest; and the writers of Drum magazine, like Can Themba and Bloke Modisane, used the neighborhood as their muse. They dressed in Fedora hats and double-breasted suits, channeling the style of Hollywood gangsters and Harlem intellectuals, creating a world that was cosmopolitain, intellectual, and radically multi-racial.

However, the “Bohemia” of Sophiatown was an existential threat to the National Party’s vision of total racial separation. The government viewed it as a “black spot” in a white area. In 1955, the state launched Western Areas Removal Scheme. On the morning of February 9th, 2,000 heavily armed police officers moved in, forcing families into trucks at gunpoint. They were relocated to the newly established matchbox houses of the South Western Townships (Soweto), 20 kilometers away. The resistance was led by figures like Trevor Huddleston, the Anglican priest whose church, St. Joseph’s, still stands today. Despite the slogan “Ons dak nie, ons pola hier” (We are not moving, we are staying here), the bulldozers were relentless.