Situated within the Red Location Cultural Precinct
The Red Location Backpackers is uniquely placed in the heart of the historic New Brighton township. It forms part of the Red Location Cultural Precinct, which has already received a lot of International acclaim and awards, of which especially the Red Location Museum, has scooped several top International trophies for its brilliant and spectacular architecture.
Components of the Red Location Cultural Precinct
Red Location Museum | Red Location Art Gallery | Red Location Library | Red Location Backpackers
Resistance against the former South African Apartheid Regime
This Community became synonymous wide and far, for being strongly resistant against the former Apartheid Regime. They were well organized: in fact the Mandela Plan, where people were organised Nationally according to Street and Area Committees, stemmed from here (Red Location).
People
The people of this area are known for their friendliness and the warm manner in which they welcome visitors and tourists. It is easy to make lifetime friendships with them.
They are extremely energetic and are engaged in a multitude of community activities. Although people of this area are predominantly Xhosa speaking, they understand and communicate with ease in English.
Social Status and Skills
Unemployment is rife in the New Brighton township (which is very much impoverished). The Community is very much in need of skills development, especially in the field of Arts and Crafts.
Arts and Crafts
The demand for Crafts are very much in need (currently almost in zero supply) as Tourism is rapidly on the rise in this area. There are however exceptionally gifted visual artists living in this area, such as Dolla Sapeta, Mpumelelo Melane and Ayanda Mji. George Pemba, used to live in close proximity to the Red Location Backpackers (formerly Red Location Bottlestore – which was a much detested infrastructure created by the former Apartheid Regime throughout Black Townships).
Music
New Brighton is regarded as one of the cauldrons of International Jazz Development. Many well known Jazz musicians stemmed and/or performed in this Township. Just to mention a few: Dudu Pukwana, Dudley Tito, Welcome Duru (he was once married to Dorothy Radebe), Feya Faku and others. Music is still very much part of the social scene and live performances are very common.
Food
The people from this Community generally eat traditional foods from day to day, which they carefully prepare. These meals are delicious and include a variety:
- Umfino (Mealie rice with Wild Green Leaves similar to Spinach)
- Umphokoqo (Mealie meal with Soured Milk)
- Umnqusho (Samp with Beans)
- Ulusu (tripe)
- Isigwamba (Cabbage and Spinach)
- Umvubo (Bread with Sour Milk)
- Amagwinya (similar to doughnuts without sugar)
- Smileys (Roasted Sheep’s Head)
- Roosterkoek (Bread baked over coals)
- Dombolo (Dumplings)
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