Housed in the vast former fresh-produce market that gives Newtown its name, Museum Africa is Johannesburg’s principal social-history museum and a natural companion to the neighbouring Market Theatre and Sci-Bono on the 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk route. Its cavernous halls trace the city’s story from pre-colonial rock art through the gold rush, forced removals and the anti-apartheid struggle, including a reconstructed informal settlement and celebrated geology and San rock-art collections.
Museum Africa also holds material relating to the 1956 Treason Trial, several defendants of which were tried nearby, giving it a direct link to the inner city’s political heritage. Entry is free, making it an easy, rewarding stop for walkers exploring the cultural precinct. Note the strict no-bags, no-cameras policy at the door, so plan to use the cloakroom on arrival.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons contributors (CC BY-SA).
