From hijacked buildings to street art dreams, Saturday’s Hillbrow parade flipped the script on what this neighbourhood is known for… with joy, music, and community taking centre stage.
Johannesburg, South Africa (25 May 2025) – Something magical unfolded in the heart of Johannesburg yesterday. On Saturday, 24 May 2025, the streets of Hillbrow transformed into a living, breathing storybook, a playful, soulful celebration of art, community and transformation.
And this year, a new chapter was added: the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) joined the joyous chaos of the “Hey Hillbrow! Let’s Dlala!” parade, bringing a whole new layer of meaning to what it means to reclaim space, dignity and dreams.
The streets of Hillbrow, a tough downtown Johannesburg district more famous for its hijacked buildings, poverty and raging crime, came alive on this sunny Saturday morning as hundreds joined in a joyful street parade mixing music, art and performances.
It felt like a joyful rebellion against the narrative the world often tells about this place… and a vibrant reminder of the beauty that still lives here.
“Hey Hillbrow! Let’s Dlala!” is not a new kid on the block. The event has been a yearly happening since 1990, a long-standing tradition of movement, music and imagination in a part of the city that often gets left out of stories worth celebrating. This year’s parade, however, was reimagined and curated with fresh magic by Shade Brixon director Tamzyn Botha, whose vision gave the event new colour and momentum.
“This wasn’t just a parade. It was a time-travelling love letter to Johannesburg, its past, its imagined futures and the vibrant pulse of its right-now.”
The spectacle, inspired by the life and work of public art warrior Lesley Perkes, took over the streets with music, colour and a sense of mischievous hope that was downright contagious. Lesley, who passed away in 2015, dreamt of a Hillbrow that danced with light and imagination. Those who loved her, and even those who never knew her but felt her spirit in the city’s heartbeat, have kept that dream alive, one joyful step at a time.
Together with a host of incredible local organisations – Dlala Nje, Dlamini Foundation, Johannesburg Society for the Blind, Innovation of Excellence, Lefika La Phodiso, Fight with Insight, MES and more – they brought the city to life in full technicolour.
It was bold. It was brave. And it was beautiful.
To all the organisers, supporters, artists, musicians, and dreamers who made it happen, thank you for reminding us that joy can be radical, and play can be powerful.
Hillbrow, you dazzled us. Let’s do it again next year.
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