In light of the proposed redevelopment of the Strand Street Quarry, the City of Cape Town is supporting a project that aims to bring the unfiltered living heritage of the kaleidoscopic Bo-Kaap under the spotlight – the Living Heritage Project.
Local residents are therefore invited to contribute material by participating in a Storytelling Day this Saturday, 2 March, where oral histories, memories and experiences of Bo-Kaap’s history and culture will be related and recorded.
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Through the Storytelling Day, the Living Heritage Project intends to tangibly incorporate the rich history and culture of the Bo-Kaap into the design of the planned redevelopment of the Strand Street Quarry to create a community and sporting facility, as well as a mixed-use space.
The open forum event will also inform the concepts for proposed installations, features and uses of key public spaces at the site.
The City’s deputy mayor and MMC for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews, says the Storytelling Day is an opportunity to share the stories of life experienced and remembered in this historic neighbourhood.
‘Living heritage is an essential source of identity,’ says Andrews.
‘It includes our cultural traditions, the stories we tell about our shared past and our memories of events and rituals. These are also the skills and indigenous knowledge that helped shape our collective being as we work, do business, socialise and congregate in our communities.’
Since January 2024, interviews with local residents have been conducted to capture their stories, photographs, video material and experiences in line with the project’s primary themes.
Some of the key themes of the Living Heritage Project:
- Iconic local family businesses, such as Rocksole, Atlas, Palmo Meat Market, Rosie’s Corner Café, Yogi Trailors
- Religious leaders
- Cultural icons and activists, among which are James Matthews, Tatamkhulu Afrika, Achmat Davids and Abdol Burns
- Choirs and minstrels
- Sporting legends and clubs
- Food vendors and restaurants
- Street names and burial sites
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‘One of the amazing aspects of this project is that local youth facilitators have been mentored and trained in conducting the interviews with pre-selected participants, among which are the business people, cultural heroes, activists and religious leaders,’ said Andrews.
‘They attended three days of content and technical workshop training about interview skills and the history of the area, while mentors with experience in history and living heritage work accompanied them during the interviews.’
All of the material gathered during the Storytelling Day will be compiled, analysed and developed into a narrative to inform the next phases of the Living Heritage Project, among which is a co-design process that will involve the local community and stakeholders through facilitated workshops.
The Strand Street Quarry is situated along Strand Street and borders the historic Bo-Kaap and De Waterkant. According to the City, the concept design proposes to turn the quarry site into a multi-use community precinct that integrates sports, culture, economic activities and tourism in a very unique setting.
The design is currently being finalised following last year’s call for public commentary on the proposed concept design for the redevelopment.
The City explained that the statutory processes related to the proposed development of the site itself. Heritage and environmental impact assessments will follow later this year and the public will then be invited once more to submit comments.
Details:
- Date: Saturday, 2 March 2024
- Location: Ghoema Theatre, Rose Street, Bo-Kaap
- Time: 12pm to 7pm
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Picture: Devon Janse van Rensburg / Unsplash