The township of Langa is 12km outside of Cape Town and was established in the 1920s to settle black migrant workers. First to be moved into the area was a Xhosa chief Langalibalele after his release from Robben Island and the area became known as Kwa-Langa, the place of Mr Langa.

During the apartheid years, alcohol was banned in the townships and illegal bars known as shebeens would operate from people’s homes to provide entertainment to the residents. It was in these establishments that well known music artists began their careers, the most notable Langa resident being the late Brenda Fassie. Shebeens are still around today and a few can be visited on a tour of Langa.

The official unemployment rate in Langa currently stands at around 60%, however, many are employed in the informal job sector in roles such as street vendors and taxi assistants.  

The best way to experience Langa is to employ a local guide. A walk through the streets with your guide means greeting every person encountered, typical in the townships where space is at a premium and everyone knows each other. A second option is to tour Langa through a guided cycle tour.

Tours normally begin at the Guga s'Thebe Cultural Centre where beautiful mosaic work is displayed and interesting curios and other innovative products are available to purchase from local crafters.

As you travel through the area you will visit shebeens and see street food suppliers selling charred sheep heads and other cuts of meat, hostels built to house male migrant workers and hastily constructed corrugated iron shops from where barbers, tailors and mobile phone SIM suppliers sell their goods.

Every year, Langa residents host the Open Streets event in King Langalibalele Drive that becomes a pedestrian walkway during the festival for various activities that include street soccer, skateboarding, impromptu basketball matches and open air exercise classes, while food stalls are available to the feed the hungry.