Colors of Johannesburg - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Johannesburg is one of the most populous cities in the country. The city has become home to representatives of different nationalities. Foreign tourists will be particularly interested in culture and lifestyle of the ethnic tribes. However, when dealing with the indigenous people, tourists should take into account a lot of important points. The locals have rather different approach to Europeans. Many of the natives simply prefer to avoid them and show their feelings quite openly. Others, however, can express increased interest and attention to foreigners.

When communicating with the local residents tourists should not be aggressive. They need to be friendly and quite restrained. It also is not recommended to photograph the local people without their permission, as well as to try to enter someone’s home without invitation. If the local people do not feel any threat or aggression from the side of foreigners, they will behave in a very friendly and open manner.

When it comes to clothes, there are no strict rules here. Classic and casual styles of clothes are very appropriate, but tourists shouldn’t wear khaki colored clothes. Wearing accessories, clothes and shoes in military style is simply not accepted here. Even children are not allowed to wear such outfits. Residents of the city usually prefer European style of clothes, but people in small tribal villages located in the outskirts of the city can wear national costumes and very specific headgear. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In no case should travellers express their surprise and discuss national costumes in public. This can become the reason for offence. The locals are quite sociable and are always happy to share the latest news with visitors and tell them about the art of local crafts. However, when dealing with the indigenous people travellers should certain avoid some "taboos".

Do not criticize their way of life and customs and never show your dissatisfaction with the local regulations. Political situation in the country is also not the best topic for a conversation, as well as relationship between the local people and migrants from European countries. By following several simple rules tourists can easily protect themselves from numerous adverse situations and make their rest very comfortable. During excursions and sightseeing programs tourists need to listen to guides carefully, as they will surely tell visitors about the rules of behavior and cultural characteristics of Johannesburg.

The city can be proud of its gorgeous festivals that frequently take place in Johannesburg. In September, the city hosts two events dedicated to music. The first one is held at the beginning of the month and is called I Heart Joburg. Hundreds of people come to Ellis Park Stadium to listen to quality music of different genres performed by local musicians and international stars. The other festival is held at the end of September and is called Joy of Jazz Festival. This event is usually sponsored by Standard Bank. Sandton Convention Center is the traditional location of this festival. Jazz and similar genres, such as funk, soul, and blues are dominant at the event. Among participants, there are worldwide famous stars and aspiring musicians who only make their first steps to international recognition.

Staring at the end of July and ending at the beginning of August, the Good Food and Wine Show is a wonderful event that is particularly appealing to all foodies. This is the time when popular chefs show off their skills and offer everyone to try various delicacies of both local and international cuisines. Beer doesn’t end at the event, but visitors can always sample good wine. There are also interesting master classes on how to select the right wine. Thematic shows make the festival even more interesting. As a rule, many restaurants, cafes, cultural centers, and exhibition complexes in the largest city of the South African Republic participate in Good Food and Wine Show.

Among culture-related events in Johannesburg, it would be a mistake not to mention Arts Alive Festival that is held at the beginning of September. For this festival, different venues across the city become the locations of theatre performances, music concerts, dancing shows, and poetic readings. A visit to this festival is a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the multidimensional South African culture (as a rule, this acquaintance happens through music and dancing). There is one more festival dedicated to art. It lasts a whole month, starting in the middle of June and ending in the middle of July. During the festival’s time, the University of Johannesburg’s Art Gallery hosts different thematic exhibitions dedicated to works of different artists.

Besides the Joy of Jazz Festival mentioned above, late September is also the time for Jozi Book Fair. Central Johannesburg College is the organization that hosts this event. Seminars, readings, performances, lectures, public discussions, meet and greet sessions, and official meetings – visitors can participate in all these during the event. Jozi Book Fair tries to raise the interest of visitors towards South African literature and, actually, the event definitely succeeds in that. Among the national holidays, the most notable and widely celebrated are the following: Human Rights Day (March 21), Day of Goodwill (December 26), Independence Day of the South African Republic (April 27). Besides that, Christmas is a very popular holiday in Johannesburg. At the end of November, a holiday fair trade opens in the city. At the fair, visitors can always purchase memorable souvenirs and gifts for the magic holiday.