The Of Soul and Joy (OSJ) Project brings the fifth edition of its Photo Festival to the township of Thokoza on Saturday, 18 October 2025. This festival marks 13 years of the OSJ Project’s mission of nurturing photographic talent, storytelling, and artistic growth in South Africa.
Experience the creativity and dynamism of OSJ photographers in this day-long celebration of art, culture, and social empowerment. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s in store for the fifth Of Soul and Joy Photo Festival
Over the past 13 years, OSJ has trained emerging photographers from Thokoza and surrounding areas, equipping them with the skills to tell meaningful stories and participate in the global creative landscape. Many alumni have gone on to receive international recognition with exhibitions, awards, and residencies that highlight the power of photography as a tool for social change.
The fifth Of Soul and Joy Photo Festival promises to be a rich celebration of photography, storytelling, and community empowerment, inviting the public to experience the transformative power of the visual arts while engaging with South Africa’s rich and diverse cultural narratives.
The festival features a vibrant programme that includes exhibitions, talks, performances, and interactive activities, with opportunities to explore projects from the Merafe Hostel; rural KwaZulu-Natal’s Nquthu and Nkandla; and Tzaneen, Limpopo.
The festival programme
In addition to the screenings, prints, and live discussions, the entire day features outdoor exhibitions by OSJ photographers and mentors, an interactive photo studio, Camera Obscura, face painting, and photo booth games with special prizes.
1pm to 1.45pm – Of Soul and Joy and its Success Stories
At the top of the programme is a play by the Sabelo Makhubu Foundation, followed by a talk with OSJ alumni Tshepiso Mazibuko and Sibusiso Bheka on how photography transformed their lives.
1.45 to 2.30pm – Empowering Women Through Photography
Then, there’s a performance by beneficiaries of Merafe Hostel with the Musawamaswazi Community Organisation, accompanied by a talk with mentors Tshepiso Mabula, Naledi Mkupa, and OSJ student Life Ngubeni, exploring the experience of women in the arts.
2.30pm to 3.30pm – Live music
In the middle of the programme, attendees are treated to a performance by the Buhlebuzile Alumni Jazz Band.
3.30pp to 4pm – Using Cinema as a Tool for Expression with Cinema Take
Following the live music, attendees can catch screenings of films created by OSJ students and a talk with Muriel Huet, Mpumelelo Mcata, and students Lerato Hashe and Millicent Hatibaki.
4pm to 5pm – Raising Awareness About Photography in Remote Communities
Last on the programmes is a traditional dance by Merafe Hostel Girls (Musawamaswazi Community Organisation), followed by a discussion with mentors Jabulani Dhlamini, Thandile Zwelibanzi, and Swazi Tshabalala about OSJ outreach workshops in rural areas and hostels.
Get to know the speakers
The lineup of speakers and mentors for the event includes:
- Jabulani Dhlamini – a documentary photographer and OSJ project manager, whose acclaimed work explores post-apartheid South Africa, collective memory, and personal narratives.
- Sibusiso Bheka – a Thokoza-born photographer known for evocative nighttime township imagery, internationally exhibited and awarded.
- Naledi Mkupa – aSouth African visual artist passionate about self-expression and social commentary through photography.
- Thandile Zwelibanzi – currently based in Mogale City, Thandile is the sixth recipient of the Edward Ruiz Mentorship at the Market Photo Workshop. His body of work produced through the mentorship has been exhibited extensively.
- Tshepiso Mabula – a documentary photographer and member of the Umhlabathi Collective.
- Mpumelelo Mcata – a filmmaker, musician, and cultural activist, widely recognised for his work with the BLK JKS.
- Muriel Huet – a social entrepreneur, education activist, and film curator with 18 years of experience exploring cinema and cultural exchange.
Need to know before you go
Free transport will be provided from the Market Photo Workshop in Newtown to the event venue. Shuttles depart for Thokoza at 11.30am and 1pm. The return shuttle leaves Thokoza at 5pm.
Cost: Free entry. Register
When: Saturday, 18 October from 11am to 5pm
Where: Buhlebuzile Secondary School, 10762 Morubisi St, Thokoza, Johannesburg
Website: ofsoulandjoy.com
Facebook: @ofsoulandjoyphotoproject
Instagram: @ofsoulandjoy
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