This Home of Ours by Ayesha Kazim

By (author): Ayesha Kazim

Title: This Home of Ours

Subtitle: Chronicling identity, community, and heritage through Bo-Kaap's ever-changing landscape.

Blurb/Shorttext:

For decades, tourists have flocked to the vibrant neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap in Cape Town, South Africa. Many visitors pass through, while others have laid more permanent roots, transforming relatively cheap property into Airbnbs for travelers. As real estate prices soar, long-term residents are fighting to retain the essence of Bo-Kaap’s cultural heritage amidst growing geographical changes.

"This Home of Ours" acts as a contemporary time capsule of the neighborhood's rich history. The Coloured community, a multiracial ethnic group native to South Africa, has faced multiple cycles of displacement and now comprises a majority of the Bo-Kaap population. After being uprooted from their homes abroad during the early Cape slave trade of the 17th century and forcefully segregated under the Apartheid regime, gentrification has become the latest threat to the predominantly Muslim community of Bo-Kaap.

Through this visual archive, the intent is to shift the focus from the theoretical, social issue of gentrification to the community members themselves, who have played an integral role in the preservation of Bo-Kaap’s history, traditions, and values. In exploring the cultural implications of displacement, this project examines the way history permeates one’s landscape. Through intimate portraits and depictions of the varied landscape, “This Home of Ours” showcases how the culture of Bo-Kaap has evolved at the intersection of race, religion, and identity. 

ISBN: 978-87-7620-253-8

Book language: English

Publishing house: Snap Collective

Website: www.snap-collective.com

Editorial Assistant: Valentina Furtuna

Designer: Marss Mickeviča

Published on: 6/13/2024

Category: Art

Price (€): 89

Keywords: Documentary, Archive, History, Photography