October 4, 2006
By Tabisa Mntengwana
AS PART of Jozi's 120th birthday celebrations, Museum Africa is hosting an exhibition illustrating the city's history.
The opening of the exhibition at the Museum Africa in Newtown coincides with the city's official birthday - 4 October.
The exhibition concentrates on various themes, such as commerce, labour, migrant workers, culture, arts, ethnicity and mining. It traces the development of the CBD from African grassland to burgeoning economic centre with soaring skyscrapers.
The photographic record focuses on the of Market Square, now known as Beyers Naude Square. Covering six blocks, from Rissik Street in the east to Sauer Street in the west, bordered by President and Market streets, the market was divided into two distinct sections. On the eastern side fresh produces and general goods were sold, while the western side was designated for trading in cattle.
The market square in 1889
(Photo by: Museum Africa)
Another interesting series of photographs on exhibition show the development of the Newtown Market, to the west of Bree Street. This market, according to a media release from the City's department of arts, culture and heritage, "was the was the largest building of its kind in South Africa when it opened in 1913".
A vast supply of goods were sold from the building: fruit and vegetables; grain and other foodstuff gathered by local entrepreneurs; and poultry and meat. A wagon market was held to the south of the building in a large open space known as the Outspan. Here farmers housed their wagons and stabled their stock.
"Newtown was a lively and cosmopolitan place in the best tradition of city markets everywhere," reads a press statement.
In 1974 the market moved from Newtown to City Deep and in 1976 the then City council allowed the Africana Museum to use the main hall of the old market. In 1994 the museum was renamed Museum Africa. According to a press statement, it is Johannesburg's major history and cultural museum.
The wagons arrive, bringing prospectors from far and wide: the first outspan in 1887
(Photo by: Museum Africa)
Fine historical photographs form part of the exhibition, such as images of Commissioner Street in 1887 and 1894, of Market Square in 1889 and 1920, the first Outspan in 1887, a map of Joburg, a sketch of the Rand in 1886/87, George Honeyball showing off the site of the Main Reefs discovery, and the first camp in 1887.
Included in the exhibition are contemporary works by several well-known photographers, such as David Goldblatt, Leon Levson and Struan Robertson. It will run for the next four years at the museum, which is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 4.45pm.
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