Books came to Johannesburg from the very earliest days of the city, and new booksellers are still trading in the same historic spaces, often in very similar styles. This is an easy walk that leaves from the African Book Trust office at the Pop-up Arcade in the Investment Building at 97 Commissioner St. Then we explore Joburg’s historic district.
We’ll visit the Joubert Street market, home to many of the 70-plus booksellers in the CBD, and De Strong Tower, importers of Nigerian religious books. There are also spaza shops, religious shops, sidewalk vendors and fashion boutiques — which all sell books too. The tour starts at 10 am. Uber/Bolt/ride-hailing is the best way to get to us.