Wit’s University’s Homecoming Weekend saw non-stop celebrations from Friday, September 2 until Sunday, September 4, 2022. The Wits Vuvuzela team was out and about throughout and these are some of the moments they captured.
The Witsie Kudu couple wave to the crowds before the beginning of the parade.
Wits Vice chancellor Zeblon Vilakazi welcomes Witsies and friends to the centenary celebrations. Photo: Keamogetswe MatlalaThe kick-off of the homecoming parade, the crowd begins with a dash from the line as confetti litters the celebratory air. Photo: Colin HugoThe Witsie Kudu couple wave to the crowds before the beginning of the parade. Photo: Colin HugoWitsies took to the streets of Braamfontein to celebrate Wits University’s 100th birthday. Photo: Elishevah BomeBesides the fancy- dress and costumes all those who took part of the Rag parade’s procession were wearing the widest and brightest smiles. Photo: Elishevah BomeA wits parade volunteer proudly wearing her Wits 100 year shirt on the parade. Photo: Colin Hugohe view of the 100 year parade from the 18th floor of the Wits Art Museum as the parade makes it’s way down Jorissen street. Photo: Colin HugoRAG Parade attendees paint their faces blue and gold. Photo: Tannur AndersParktown Boys High School band kicked off the celebrations with a performance. Photo: Tannur AndersWits cheerleaders partake in the first of the homecoming festivities. Photo: Tannur AndersWits Vuvuzela student journalist, Colin Hugo, came sixth in the #Wits100 Parkrun. Photo: Tannur AndersThe famous Great Hall is lit up by the centenary light show. Artists and dancers performed live impromptu art at the feet of the great hall. Photo: Colin Hugo A picture of what Braamfontein used to look like displayed on the face lifted Great Hall. Photo: Colin Hugo South African Rapper, Big Zulu, performing at the Free People’s Concert at Digs Field, West Campus. Photo: Busisiwe MdluliSouth African singer-songwriter, Jesse Clegg, performing the songs of his late father, Johnny Clegg at the Free People’s Concert. Photo: Busisiwe MdluliSome future Witsies taking a look at Great Hall. Photo: Elishevah BomeWits dean of student affairs Jerome September dolled up for the parade. Photo: Keamogetswe MatlalaWits SRC president Cebolenkosi Khumalo cruising along with vice chancellor Zeblon Vilakazi as the parade moved into the streets of Braamfontein. Photo: Keamogetswe MatlalaSongs of struggle marked the separate march against exclusion by PYA and EFFSC student leaders which led the parade pack. Photo: Keamogetswe MatlalaStudent leaders overtake the centenary parade with placards expressing adverse messaging. Photo: Keamogetswe MatlalaVusi Mahlasela performing during his heart-warming set at The Free People’s Concert. Photo: Rufaro ChiswoThe crowd at the Free People’s Concert thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Photo: Rufaro Chiswo Soweto Gospel Choir’s colourful outfits make the stage more vibrant. Photo: Rufaro ChiswoThe woodwind players from Mango Groove blowing everyone away. Photo: Rufaro ChiswoMango Groove’s Claire Johnston giving a jaw-dropping vocals. Photo: Rufaro ChiswoDazzled by the performers, the crowd can’t take their eyes off the stage. Photo: Rufaro ChiswoWits staff could not wait to get their hands on the special edition Wits Vuvuzela newspaper in celebration of the Wits centenary on morning September 2. Photo: Tylin MoodleyA player from the Orlando Pirates Legends team lines up an explosive penalty shot during the Wits Legends and Orlando Pirates Legends soccer match on Saturday, September 3. Photo: Tylin MoodleyWits Legends (left) and Orlando Pirates Legends (right) come together in the heat to watch the penalties that Orlando Pirates Legends won 4-3 during Homecoming Weekend. Photo: Tylin MoodleyWits fans came dressed in their supporter’s gear for the game against Wits Legends and Orlando Pirates Legends at Wits Stadium on the Saturday of Homecoming Weekend. Photo: Tylin MoodleyWits Music Alumnus Mdu Mtshali and various artists perform Gideon Nxumalo’s ‘60th Celebration of Jazz Fantasia’. Photo: Mpho HlakudiTenor Saxophonist, Thami Mahlangu performs an exquisite piece at the Wits Fantasia’ at the new Chris Seabrooke Music Hall on East Campus. Photo: Mpho HlakudiPerformers take a bow as the crowd cheers and applauds their electric performance which earned a standing ovation. Photo: Mpho HlakudiThe #Wits100 Light Show light up by a map of Wits Braamfontein surrounding areas. Photo: Mpho Hlakudi
The scrapping of the majority of covid-19 regulations on campus have seen Wits University looking like its pre-pandemic self. Libraries are full, the Matrix is a hive of activity and the library lawn is the enclave of activations, naps and conversation.
Parking has once again become a struggle with most parking lots at full capacity. Photo: Elishevah BomeLines that bend and stretch around store corners are once again a lunchtime norm. Photo: Elishevah BomeLines to Vida e Caffe have also doubled in size this semester. Photo: Elishevah BomeThe steps of South West Engineering building serve as a place for rest during breaks. Photo: Elishevah BomeBethia Milner and Daniel Frankel enjoying lunch on East Campus. Photo: Elishevah BomeTo some, covid-19 is seemingly a thing of the past. No masks and no social distancing in congested areas on campus. Photo: Elishevah BomeThe Library Lawns regain their former glory as a place to bask in the sun. Photo: Elishevah BomeWits staffers have been working throughout the pandemic, keeping the university in tip top shape. Photo: Elishevah BomePedestrians crossing Amic Deck to move from different parts of Main Campus. Photo: Elishevah Bome
The Wits Choir hosted a mini concert on the Great Hall steps on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, injecting some culture into passersby.
Photo: Elishevah Bome
Students studying, eating and playing games with their friends on the Library Lawns.
Photo: Elishevah Bome
FEATURED IMAGE: Wits Campus is buzzing again Photo: ElishevahBome
This week saw the winter season for 2022 make its mark, with the coldest night of the year recorded in parts of Gauteng by the South African Weather Service on May 31, 2022. Wits Vuvuzela took to Main Campus to see how Witsies and the surrounds have taken to the freezing temperatures.
And here’s what Witsies say they like about the colder months of the year.
LIPSTICK ART: Artwork made from lipstick by Sarah Britten sits at Vèlo Café for customers to enjoy.
Corrugated iron doors almost make you shy away from the Ithuba’s politically satirical imagery found in the gallery space until you see what’s inside: Bullets, whips and Jacob Zuma occupy the floor space in the gallery commemorating the 20 years of South African democracy that encourage critical discourse to take place.
This exhibition titled Tension Torsion: 20 Years On, is a group exhibition curated by Farieda Nazier, with new works from Gordon Froud, Avitha Sooful and Oupa V Mokwena.
The Revival of Art
Art galleries are part of the revivalist strategy for the student community, for instance, the Stevenson gallery, which occupies the corner of Juta street and plays host to artist Nandipha Mntambo’s solo exhibition called Transience. Stevenson offers the contemporary art audience in and around Braamfontein an alternative solution to the otherwise high-end art galleries in Johannesburg.
[pullquote]The gallery’s pieces are all under R10 000, affordable by art prices in Joburg.[/pullquote]
Director and curator, David Brodie, views the decision to open a gallery in Braamfontein as “culturally important” crediting the opening of the Wits Art Museum (WAM) as one of the primary reasons for opening the space.
The artwork is set against a navy background with an eggplant chair made from cow-hide hanging loosely from the ceiling and portions of hair protruding from the works that are displayed on the walls in a trendy and avante garde atmosphere. The less alternative pieces hang quietly at the entrance of the gallery which leads visitors and art enthusiasts into the transient world of Mntambo’s mind.
Affordable luxury
The gallery’s pieces are all under R10 000, affordable by art prices in Joburg. According to Brodie, prices range on the artist’s credibility in the art scene. A comparatively smaller and contained gallery space located walking distance from Stevenson, aptly called ‘Room’ is a “space that is full of concepts and where concepts change”, says special projects manager Megan Mace. It depicted issues about space and how this changes.
The current exhibition is by young artist, Mack Magagane, titled Somewhere Between and is a photographic journey of the three months he lived in Europe, as an outsider. A red curtain separates the gallery space, creating what Mace refers to as a “haphazard space” that plays with the idea of the concept of space.
However if you happen to want to catch a bite while perusing through artworks, then pop into Vélo Café which offers a double a treat of food and art. Artworks by Sarah Britten made from red and pink lipstick add an interesting contrast to the white walls and work as an ice-breaker for first date conversation.
So, if you’re planning to go out to explore the city, Juta street’s art hub is the perfect location for developing your art palette.
We are back with another season of We Should Be Writing, this season we take a on a more unconventional theme than past seasons, have a listen for what's in store. Follow us on @witsvuvuzela to keep an eye on the weekly drops.
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