Choose your country and language:

Africa

  • Global
  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • DRC
  • Ethiopia
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nigeria
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • shotLeft

Americas

  • USA
  • Argentina
  • Brazil

Asia Pacific

  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia

Europe

  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • United Kingdom
Back

IIf the walls of Dr. A.B. Xuma’s venerable home in Sophiatown could speak, what tales would they tell?        

As one of two houses to elude the destruction of Sophiatown under the apartheid government’s forced removal programme, Dr. Xuma’s historic dwelling holds scores of engrossing stories dating back to 1935.

Tales of black excellence

As one of the first few medical practitioners in South Africa, Alfred Bitini Xuma built a fashionable and modern home that appropriately represented him as one of the country’s most influential black thinkers and leaders. While most black families lived in semi-detached houses in the 1940s and 1950s, he opted for a single-storey dwelling that occupied two stands.

Luckily, Xuma didn’t live alone in this house, which was considered "big" at the time. He shared this glorious space with his second wife, Madie Hall Xuma – an American activist and the first president of the African National Congress (ANC) Women’s League (1943 – 1948). Like her husband, Madie embodied black excellence, which transcended through the concrete walls of their palatial home.

Did You Know?
TThe forced removals in Sophiatown began in 1955 which was the same year that the Freedom Charter was adopted.

TTales of Kofifi

Standing tall and enviably on Toby Street, Xuma’s house played a part  in the close-knit, lively and multicultural community of Sophiatown, popularly known as Sof’town or Kofifi among its swanky residents.

House of Dr. A.B. Xuma in Sophiatown

Food
When to visit
How to get here

TThe suburb was one of the last places in Johannesburg where people of all races could live or do business together in the early decades of the 20th century. It flourished, attracting entrepreneurs, lawyers, activists and teachers. Musicians, writers and artists were inspired by the mix of cultures and races that became characteristic of Sophiatown.

By the 1940s, this historic suburb was a living example of South Africa’s potential for a multicultural society. This potential was personified by the likes of Oliver Tambo, who taught at Sophiatown’s St Cyprian's School, the largest primary school in South Africa. It also inspired Gerard Sekoto, who captured the spirit of Sophiatown in his art, and journalists like Henry Nxumalo who worked for Drum magazine, a publication that was in some ways the barometer of the time.

But Sophiatown is perhaps best known for its jazz musicians: Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim, Jonas Gwangwa and Miriam Makeba. They went on to become some of the most respected jazz musicians in the world.

Sophiatown's jazz musicians' artistic and political influence radiated from South Africa, reaching the African diaspora and beyond. It expressed the ideals of freedom and equality for which Sophiatown was famous. In doing so, it helped engage the world in the struggle against apartheid.

TTales of Empilweni (a place of life)         

Upon completion in 1935, Xuma’s house was named Empilweni (a place of life). Befitting its name, Empilweni also served as consulting rooms for Dr. Xuma’s medical practice. This access to medical care for the local community was housed in a separate wing from his residence.

Tales of the African National Congress (ANC)

As the seventh President-General of the ANC, Xuma often had visitors over to discuss policies and political agendas. Treated to the beauty of a traditional and high-quality interior, it’s no wonder a young Nelson Mandela was left in awe in 1943 when he (and his fellow comrades) paid Xuma a visit to propound a radical ANC Youth League manifesto and draft constitution to him.

In his autobiography, Mandela recalls having been impressed by Xuma’s house, which he describes as “grand”.

Tales of the last days of Sophiatown

In an effort to purge black South Africans from developed neighbourhoods, Sophiatown was earmarked for destruction under the apartheid government’s Group Areas Act in 1955. The people of Sophiatown resisted the removal, but over the next eight years, 65 000 residents were forced to relocate. Among them was Xuma, who - despite having been the Chairperson of the Western Areas Anti-Expropriation and Proper Housing Committee - was compelled to move to Dube, Soweto, with his wife in 1959. The area became a whites-only suburb called Triomf. However, Xuma’s house, built of red brick with a corrugated tin roof, remained. A big and significant part of Sophiatown remained.

Tales of a legacy

Xuma’s historic home was not only declared a national monument in 1998, but the following year it was formally given Heritage Site status.

Today, when visitors peruse this house (also called the Sophiatown Heritage and Cultural Museum, since 2008) they should listen out for the tales of all South Africans working towards excellence and a non-racial future.

Related Articles

Bustling city life

Marina Appelbaum: Nikos and Old Ducky French Cafe

Bustling city life
Marina Appelbaum: Nikos and Old Ducky French Cafe
South Africa is a marvel. Not only does the country boast warm and welcoming people, but it has also an array of culinary offerings enough to cater to any palate and feast. We continue with our celebration of South Africa’s women in the tourism and hospitality sector and this time we catch up with foodie, Marina Appelbaum Marina Appelbaum grew up in the kitchen of the iconic Three Sisters Cafe in Hillbrow which her mother ran for 28 years, with a family legacy like hers it is unsurprising that she is the owner of two thriving eateries - Nikos and The Old Ducky French Café in Pineslopes in Fourways, Johannesburg.
Vibrant culture

Tour Soweto in Gauteng: experience vibrant township life and the spirit not even apartheid could crush in the south of Johannesburg

Vibrant culture
Tour Soweto in Gauteng: experience vibrant township life and the spirit not even apartheid could crush in the south of Johannesburg
Take a tour of Soweto, Johannesburg’s vibrant city-within-a-city – apart from learning the history of the struggle against apartheid, you can immerse yourself in a modern urban vibe with lots to do.
Active adventure

Soweto Bicycle Tours: see the famed suburbs on two wheels

Active adventure
Soweto Bicycle Tours: see the famed suburbs on two wheels
Soweto Bicycle Tours let you explore South Africa’s most famous township’s streets with a qualified guide, taking in historical sites like the former homes of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu.
Bustling city life

South African architectural tours: explore the urban design that built a nation

Bustling city life
South African architectural tours: explore the urban design that built a nation
South African urban architectural design tours introduce visitors to the eclectic array of styles and influences behind the country’s most iconic buildings.
Vibrant culture

South African cultural museums: rich traditions and history all over

Vibrant culture
South African cultural museums: rich traditions and history all over
South Africans are a diverse mix of peoples from Africa, Europe, Asia and elsewhere, and the many museums scattered around the country preserve rich histories, heritages and cultural traditions.
Vibrant culture

Historic places of worship in South Africa: cathedrals, churches, mosques, synagogues and temples catering to religious diversity

Vibrant culture
Historic places of worship in South Africa: cathedrals, churches, mosques, synagogues and temples catering to religious diversity
South Africa is a country of rich religious diversity, protected by the Constitution, so explore sacred architecture and spiritual traditions at our many historic places of worship.
Vibrant culture

A showcase of African art – Wits Art Museum, Johannesburg

Vibrant culture
A showcase of African art – Wits Art Museum, Johannesburg
Wits Art Museum – part of the University of the Witwatersrand – houses an African art collection that was started in the 1920s and includes masks, photographs, paintings and more.
Vibrant culture

The Swazi people

Vibrant culture
The Swazi people
The Swazi people, part of the Nguni tribe, originated from east-central Africa in the late 15th century and settled in the area known as Swaziland.

South Africa on social media

Copyright © 2023 South African Tourism
|Terms and conditions|Disclaimer|Privacy policy