my saturday citywalk

On saturday I met my city for the first time. Or shall I say, that although we had met before, I sometimes found its quirkiness annoying. I wasn't a stranger, and had spent many, many hours exploring its streets. But on saturday, I was introduced to a city that I never new existed. And it was right under my nose the whole time…

You see, I was lucky enough to go on a Citywalk hosted by Doung Anwar Jahangeer. Originally from Mauritius, he came to Durban in the early nineties to study architecture, and Durban is now his home. He has been giving Citywalks since 2001. I would love to tell you more, but this is a trip of discovery that you have to experience yourself.

My personal experience is that I have never felt so comfortable and easy exploring parts of my city that we are warned away from. Bombarded by fear-mongering day after day, it seems that we have become afraid of other people. Walking through a shopping mall, no one makes eye contact, let alone shares a smile with a stranger. We drive around in our personal vehicles which only further serve to isolate us from human contact. So being a pedestrian and connecting with the people of my city felt so uplifting. I felt human.

There was very little that I saw on Saturday that was new to me, but what I did get was a feeling of freedom I'm only ever felt walking the streets of foreign cities. What a pleasure to realise that I have it here, right on my doorstep. Having the breathing space to walk and explore and take ownership.

Now I understand better and appreciate more and look forward to spending even more time getting to know my new friend.

For those who have gone on architect Doung Anwar Jahangeer’s Citywalk, it is an enlightening experience. Moving from the suburban shopping mall of Musgrave Centre, down Berea Road, through the bustling Warwick Street district, into the City Centre and ending at the harbour’s edge, the walk takes in a microcosm of Durban life.

Doung writes:
The CityWalk is an investigative journey, an exuberant exploration as well as humbling and cautionary tale, an allegory on the infinite complexities of spaces and timings in the city of Durban KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was initiated and has been running since 2001 and is experimental, oral, visual and informal in nature.