Art, Literature and Language: What’s On at the Goethe-Institut in July

The Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg is hosting film, art, language and literature events throughout the month of November with the aim of sharing and nurturing various important forms of cultural exchange. Here’s all you need to know about the event schedule.

What does the Goethe-Institut do?

The Goethe-Institut aims to cultivate international and local cultural exchange through the arts, sciences and languages. With over 100 institutes worldwide, and 14 in the sub-Saharan region, including the one in Johannesburg, the Goethe-Institut is committed to fostering transnational diversity, understanding and trust.

The Johannesburg institute’s Language department offers German lessons in the Goethe-Institut and otherwise, supporting German teachers in the country and working closely with the South African Department of Education.

Their Library and Information Department works in partnership with libraries and other institutions involved in book and reading promotion in South Africa and encourages exchanges between information specialists and publishers in South Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and Germany.

And their Cultural Programmes Department focuses on a variety of different artistic approaches from the visual arts to drama, dance, literature, film, and others to support the local cultural scenes and strengthen pan-African dialogue through the arts.

The Goethe-Institut’s July Programme

Ableton User Group Johannesburg – LiveFlows Workshop Goethe-Institut | What's on in Joburg

Ableton User Group Johannesburg – From Mbiras to birdsong

Join the next Ableton User Group Johannesburg workshop, exploring one of the most powerful creative tools inside Ableton Live: Sampler.

In this hands-on session, attendees learn how to design and build their own original multisample Instrument Rack from the ground up. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops and download the included Ableton Live project, which contains a step-by-step lesson that guides you through creating a fully playable multisampled Mbira (Kalimba) instrument.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll understand how to:

Record and organise samples for use in Ableton Sampler
Create expressive multisample instruments using note ranges and velocity layers
Trigger and perform your instruments via MIDI controllers or sequencing
Preserve the natural dynamics and character of acoustic instruments
Design entirely new and unique sounds through creative sample processing
Build reusable Instrument Racks for future music production projects

Whether your goal is to faithfully recreate an acoustic instrument or transform it into something completely futuristic and other-worldly, the techniques covered in this workshop open up new creative possibilities and expand your sonic palette.

The workshop also explores the concept of ethical experimentation, using your own recordings, found sounds and short instrumental samples as source material for original instrument design. This approach encourages producers to develop a unique sound while deepening their understanding of sampling and sound design.

Special Presentation: Santuri Safari

The session is hosted by Ableton Certified Trainer Emile Hoogenhout (Behr), who also showcases and discusses his acclaimed Santuri Safari instrument collection, which was featured on the Ableton website.

Santuri Safari was developed in collaboration with Santuri East Africa as part of an initiative to preserve and reimagine traditional East African instruments through music technology. During the project, Emile recorded and transformed a range of instruments into expressive Ableton Live Instrument Racks, creating a bridge between traditional musical heritage and contemporary electronic music production.

The collection includes sampled instruments such as:

Adungu – a nine-string arched harp from Uganda
Zeze – a traditional East African string instrument
Endere – a flute played by several East African cultures
Ohangla Drums – a rich percussion ensemble from Kenya

Emile shares insights into the recording process, multisampling techniques and the creative decisions behind translating these instruments into expressive digital instruments while preserving their cultural identity and sonic character.

Throughout the workshop, Emile also demonstrates a variety of custom sample-based instruments and Drum Racks he has created, including:

Chopped Jazz and Funk vinyl instruments inspired by classic MPC workflows
Drum Racks built entirely from an 8-bit Nintendo console
Percussion instruments created from recordings of his dog
Birdsong-based instruments and soundscapes
Other experimental and unconventional sample libraries

These examples will illustrate how multisampling can be applied far beyond traditional instruments and can become a powerful tool for developing a distinctive artistic voice. Bring your laptop, headphones and curiosity.

Cost: Free entry

When: Wednesday, 1 July 2026 from 4pm to 7pm
Where: Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, 119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg

AFRO-Freedom Book Club

The AFRO-Freedom Book Club is a public gathering that celebrates Afrikan writers, aiming to spark dialogue and civic engagement within the community. This club is a fantastic space for Afro-centric, creative, opinionated, and open-minded individuals, and the meetups take place on the second Wednesday of each month. Anyone can join in, regardless of whether they’ve read the book or not.

The book selection for July is Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. This is Evaristo’s eighth novel and the one that catapulted her to international fame. It tells the stories of twelve people – “mostly women, mostly black” – who live in Britain and vary greatly in circumstances. It’s not a linear narrative, but more a series of connected biographical vignettes that span decades and multiple geographies.

The monthly book selection is shared via the mailing list and on social media (Facebook and Instagram). Email [email protected] for more information.

Cost: Free entry

When: Wednesday, 8 July 2026 from 7pm to 9pm
Where: Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, 119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg

Gamedev meetups

Every second Thursday of every month, gaming enthusiasts can join the Goethe-Institut for talks, game showcases, networking with other game developers, and playtesting. Refreshments are also served throughout the evening to keep the energy up.

Cost: Free entry

When: Thursday, 9 July 2026 from 6pm to 9pm
Where: Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, 119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg

African Feminisms Gathering Thabang Radebe Goethe-Institut — Image by Thabang Radebe

Workshop/Panel: Fundraising Building Blocks and the Launch of Funders for South Africa

Hosted by The Goethe-Institut in partnership with the British Council and CCA Recruitment and Consulting, this event is for Fundraising Professionals and NPO CEOs/Leaders looking to enhance their fundraising initiatives to reach their fundraising goals.

The gathering spotlights fundraising strategies, the importance of the media in fundraising and launches the Funders Directory for South Africa, a new digital platform that will assist fundraisers in researching and identify new funding opportunities.

The event line-up:

9am to 9.30am: Bruce Tait – How to Find Funders, Funders for South Africa Directory
9.30am to 10.30am: Panel discussion – the Funding Landscape with Nancy Ncube, Carolin Christgau, George Barrett and Bruce Tait
10.30am to 11.15am: Nancy Ncube – Fundraising and the Media
11.15am to 12pm: Penelope Bryce – Strategy for NPO’s
12pm to 1pm: Refreshments and Networking

Cost: Free entry. RSVP to [email protected] by 5pm on 10 July 2026

When: Tuesday, 14 July 2026 from 9am to 1pm
Where: Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, 119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg

Wikipedia Meetup

Wikipedia meetups are community gatherings where Wikipedians and other Wikimedians come together to socialise, collaborate, and work toward the shared goal of improving free knowledge. These meetups can be in person or online, and anyone may organise or attend: no special permissions are required, and formats vary widely depending on the group’s goals.

What This Johannesburg Meetup Is About

At the Goethe-Institut edition of the meetup, participants focus on discussions around:

Wikimedia South Africa, its work, programmes, and current projects within the chapter and the larger Wikimedia movement.
Activities and developments happening locally, across Africa, and internationally within Wikimedia.
Open conversations and Q&A about Wikipedia and its sister projects.

This aligns perfectly with how Wikipedia meetups often include discussion, collaboration, sharing ideas, and sometimes editing activities.

Purpose of the Meetups

The overall purpose is to create a space where everything related to Wikipedia can be learned, explored, or discussed.

From a practical standpoint, attendees can expect:

Learning about how Wikipedia works and how the local affiliate (Wikimedia South Africa) operates.
Asking any questions about Wikipedia editing, policies, or participation.
Hearing about upcoming Wikimedia events in South Africa, Africa, and the global movement.
Occasional editathons, training sessions, and hands-on guidance, which reflects the common meetup format of editingfocused gatherings.

Who can attend?

The event is open to Wikipedia editors, beginners, researchers, community members, and anyone simply curious about how Wikipedia works.

This openness mirrors global Wikipedia meetup norms, where gatherings are designed for all levels of experience and are often supported by experienced editors.

Cost: Free entry. Email [email protected] for more information

When: Saturday, 18 July 2026 from 10.30am to 12.30pm
Where: Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, 119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg

Silent Book Club

To participate in the Goethe-Institut’s Silent Book Club, bring any book that you are interested in reading or explore the Goethe library for a title that piques your interest and join your fellow bookworms for a few hours of silent, communal reading.

Cost: Free entry

When: Wednesday, 29 July 2026 from 6.30pm to 9pm
Where: Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, 119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg