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Paintings of singers Miriam Makeba and Margaret Mcingana, two of Johannesburg's greats, have been installed on the streets bearing their names in Newtown.
The familiar face of Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba, graces a wall in Joburg's CBD
MAMA Africa and Lady Africa have both arrived in Newtown; the two striking artworks of two of South Africa's best known musical icons - Miriam Makeba and Margaret Mcingana - can now be seen on the corners of Bree Street and the streets carrying their names in Newtown.
The project is a Region F initiative in partnership with the Arts Bank. It is a first for the inner city. The two murals are made of weather-proof vinyl and are attached to metal frames that can be moved if needed.
Makeba is best know for her soulful singing and is still regarded by many as the most important female vocalist ever to emerge from South Africa. A Grammy award winner in 1960, she is best remembered for the "click song", Pata Pata.
Many Joburg residents will still be able to recall Mcingana's clear strong voice, singing Mama Thembu's Wedding as part of her lead role in the musical, Ipi Ntombi.
Even before this musical made headlines, she had already written her name in the history books by becoming the first black artist to be featured on the Radio 5 hit parade.
At the height of her career she was at the top of the charts in Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.
Sadly, both these artists' lives were marked by struggle - personal as well as professional - during South Africa's darkest period, the apartheid years.
The inner city, Region F, felt it was important that the singers be remembered in a more visible manner, says Nathi Mthethwa, the regional director. The project also falls in line with the City's public art policy.
"The inner city of Johannesburg is a historical landmark and it is a fitting gesture to pay tribute to these icons, who contributed so much to the development of the city, even if they are no longer with us."
Part of the project's aim is to educate people about Joburg's famous figures, he says. He hopes the murals will be an added attraction in Newtown, an area that has already established itself as a major entertainment hub with a variety of live music and theatre, eateries and art centres.
Shaun O'Shea, the stakeholder manager for the region, says the project came about after the region realised that there was no information available in the public environment on these two music legends. On stakeholder walkabouts, people - the younger generations in particular - often did not even have an idea who these artists were.
Each mural will have a plaque with a short history of the artist. The next project on the cards for the region is a mural of Joe Slovo, the struggle stalwart, in the road that carries his name. The necessary funds still need to be raised.
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