Market Photo Workshop alumnus opens a photography gallery right in the heart of Braamfisherville in Soweto

The gallery is currently attracting the curious from the community.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

One could tell that the community, those passing by on the main street where the gallery is situated and the neighbours, were all curious. Firstly in this neighbourhood, it is unusual to see a bus load of strangers, some with camera strapped on their shoulders, some carrying note books and whipping out phones from their pockets to capture all the action. Certainly the crowd were not tourists, but locals, and this the onlookers could tell by hearing a plethora of local languages that these surprise visitors spoke as they descended on a space that a few weeks before might have looked like another business in the streets.

Such as spaza shops, hair salons and eateries of al descriptions that are very much part of a township street scene in South Africa today. In fact Mandebele Gallery in Braamfisherville near, Soweto, is hemmed on each side by a barber shop and a small shop that operates as a restaurant in this vibrant but poor township.

It is clear that poverty in this place is a common feature due to a high rate of unemployment and the general lack of opportunities. However it is here that new gallery owner, Gopolang Ledwaba, the founder of Mandebele photography gallery dreams of transforming not only his life, but that of the community by bringing a gallery that showcases photography. He believes there are people who would be interested in patronizing this gallery and possibly buy the photographs that are on display in the gallery, all portraits. He tell stories of his township through these powerful portraits.

This event took place in March 2024, when together with the team from the Market Photo Workshop the internationally renowned photography school based in Newtown, Johannesburg, the entrepreneur launched Mandebele Gallery. It was an event that was attended by fellow photographers, and just like the new gallerist, who had just completed an eight month business incubation programme at the Market Photo Workshop. The incubation programme, sponsored by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, aims at teaching photographers, all previous graduates of the Market Th Photo Workshop, business skills.

This programme is part of the extensive list of programmes this famous photography school offers to young people, particularly from formerly disadvantaged communities, skills in photography at an affordable cost.

However Ledwaba, who graduated from the Market Photo Workshop in 2019, shortly before Covid-19, struck, had always taken pictures as a self-taught street photographer in his township. But when an opportunity presented itself to enroll at Market Photo Workshop, he jumped on it.

“I knew that being a graduate of Market Photo Workshop was not only going to upgrade my photography skills, but elevate my standing and status in the photography field. And so after graduating, I always yearned to open a gallery in my township, bring something new, something the community was not familiar with. I tried to do so twice, but things did not go well as I renovated and rented a space from someone only to be kicked out when the place started getting busy,” he explained. He lost all his savings in the process and had to start all over.

Therefore when the opportunity to apply for the incubation programme at his alma mater beckoned, he did not think twice. “I actually served the stipend that I was getting in the eight months that I have been part of the incubation so that at the end, I would use the savings to launch this gallery. I am grateful to the Market Photo Workshop that they prevailed and assisted me in launching this gallery,” he said.

He told CITYLIFE/ARTS that interest to visit the gallery by the community keeps on growing everyday.

“People are genuinely curious to come and view the portraits that are currently on exhibit as part of the Intersections exhibition, which is still on, till end of May, 2024. At the beginning people would come and be hesitant to come in, but I always tell the visitors that they must feel free as this gallery is meant for them. Now I have added other services, including serving coffee, a picture framing service and printing pictures for the community,” he explained.

Ledwaba added that he is also planning some weekend activities, just outside the gallery. “Just across the road from the gallery, there is a big wall that I would like to turn into a mural where local artists can create art works. I also want to introduce poetry and music performances, and therefore create a buzz around the gallery. I am also planning to connect with those that are in tourism so that when tourists visit the township, they can also pass through here for a different experience.”