Some interesting footgear was on display on the night.

The Armoury Boxing Club hosted its 5th “White Collar” Fight Night on Friday night. I went along partly to cover the event for ILW and partly out of morbid fascination, not really knowing what to expect. A quick glance at the Armoury’s impressive website laid to rest any ideas I may have had of seeing a sociopath ad. exec. version of Brad Pit with bare knuckles beating someone senseless. These guys were into traditional boxing and took themselves seriously as boxing coaches. But still I had reservations on just how real this fight night will be. Will it be a bunch of yuppies pussyfooting around, feeling each other out – a kind of ‘display fight’?

The crowd get lubricated on tall stories and Black Label.

From the moment the first fight started any reservations were laid to rest. The level of intensity caught me by surprise and I gathered from the cheers and ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ that the rest of the audience was similarly enthralled. I have been to Dragon Power Muay Thai events before and the party vibe and format was similar, although this time imbued with a distinct boxing flavour. Tough looking guys in suits mingled with the trendy Cape Town (or should I say Woodstock?) crowd while fighters battled it out in the ring.

In the warm-up room the tension shows on the faces of the waiting pugilists.

Only these fighters are ordinary Joe’s like you and me, taking on a bout in the ring for the thrill of an adventure or a challenge beyond what can be experienced in the office environment. The volunteer fighters get to train for 3 months and then experience a white collar bout, 3 rounds of 2 minutes each. Protective gear is worn and no winners are declared. Everyone who has the guts to step into the ring is considered a winner.

Left: Warming up. Right: Anne-Sophie strikes a pose

Anne-Sophie Leens, a graphic designer, had commented on Facebook that she was training for such an event and I arranged to chat to her after her fight. It turned out that she had only been training for the last 6 weeks running up to the fight, one week of which she was sick. The trainers asked her if she was interested in competing, since matric student Donna Blagus needed an opponent. Anne-Sophie was subsequently put through a crash course in physical fitness and boxing training to prepare her for the match. Before you get upset with Anne-Sophie for beating up on schoolgirls, let me remind you that little Donna had already been training for a year, and may have been itching to beat up someone old enough to be her school teacher.

Donna Blagus experiences a blood bin moment.

As soon as the match started the girls went for each other like two angry cobras, and by the second round both sported bloody noses. This was no posing fight indeed. At the end of the match both embraced and had their arms raised as winners. I caught up with them in the restroom where they were excitedly swapping stories of “I did this, and you did that…” , clearly both still cruising on the high of the moment.

Afterwards the ladies embrace each other before swapping war stories.

Although only 3 rounds of 2 minutes, your fitness will be tested to the max.

The Armoury fashion gear hangs like a suit display in the Bat Cave. Be warned… you have to earn the right to wear these.

50% of the people training at the club are women.

The Fight Night experience is a near authentic version of a real boxing match.

Contemporary boxing icons adorn the mens’ and ladies’ doors respectively.

Gargle and spit! Coaches also discuss tactics during breaks.

Everyone who steps into the ring is a winner on Fight Night.

DJ Darren “The Tunemaster” Todd dishes out beatings of a different kind on the night.

The Armoury Boxing Club is situated in the Armoury building, Buchanon Square, Sir Lowry Road. The next Fight Night is on 25 November 2011. Visit their site for more info on classes and fees.

Popular with film shoots, the Valley brothers at Alfreda Hairdressers have their own kind of fame, a recognition that comes from perseverance, longevity and a kind of serenity.

Born in Salt River/Woodstock, they have spent their entire lives here, in the barber shop where they work and in the residence behind the shop where they live. Grandfather Cassiem “Old Man” Valley who came out from Bombay, India, started the barber shop at the current location sometime around 1903, though the exact date is a little unclear.

Grandsons Ismail Mohamed Cassiem Valley and Cassiem Mohamed Valley still actively ply their trade, though sadly, brothers Ebraim Mohamed Valley and Isaac Mohamed Cassiem Valley have passed on. They attended Wesley Training College, Salt River and then started working in their grandfather’s shop, where they have been for the last 60 years or so.

They still have many regular clients (and at R20 a haircut it’s not hard to understand why), though the pace is a little slower these days. They have no thoughts of retiring, as Ismail says “What am I going to do at home? You have to keep your mind busy.” Their opening hours, however, are still 7am to 5pm, even at the more leisurely pace they claim to maintain.

When asked if anyone has been in business for as long as they have, they say all have retired or passed away. The longest ‘rival’ was the family firm of I. Marx & Sons which owned several buildings including the Duchess Overall Factory, but they too sold up and moved away, leaving only the Valleys as the longest remaining institution in the area. They seem unphased by the changes around them over the many years they’ve worked and lived here.

The street used to be residential, and they have seen it transformed into small businesses by locals as well as by the more recent influx of African immigrants. These immigrants have also opened smaller ‘salons’ but according to Ismail they don’t last long.

The family lived through Apartheid’s attempts to push out non-white residents first from District 6, then Woodstock and Salt River, but luckily managed to remain where they have always been.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the next few years as the area continues to be upgraded, as old and new Woodstock continue to meet. When asked what the future holds, whether they have sons to take over the business, Cassiem shrugged and said that their sons are professionals, and that they had no interest in continuing with the barbershop. Though the way he says it, it’s simply part of life; though it will definitely be sad when this place, a holdover from a past time disappears from the streets of Salt River.

All interior photographs courtesy of  Melanie Cleary.

Exterior photograph courtesy of Ruan Benade.

UPDATE: We’ve added a map for the location of Alredo’s and you can view it by clicking here.

Alfredo’s is on the right hand side as you turn left into Alfred Str.

Since May 2011 Brett Herron, a long-time Woodstock resident, is also the Ward 57 councillor (DA) representing the neighbourhood in the city hall(s) of power. He’s to be seen on his website, on facebook, on twitter, and at your local café. Brett thinks ILOVEWOODSTOCK is a great idea, and here he reveals a bit about his experiences, his plans for the ward and his love of Woodstock.

1) What brought you to Woodstock?

I have been living in Woodstock for about 5 years. I moved here from Observatory after I sold my house there at the height of the property boom in 2006.  I couldn’t seem to make a quick enough offer on another house in Obs – the market was on fire and houses were being snapped up so quickly (perhaps I move too slowly!).  I found a house in Balfour Street that I really liked, put in an offer and ended up moving here. I really didn’t know much about Woodstock at the time but after moving in I felt instantly at home and I am still here!

2) What’s been your most interesting moment or place in Woodstock?

There isn’t really one – the fabric of the entire suburb is interesting.  It has a rich cultural and architectural heritage that is fascinating and when it ties together to create an interesting urban landscape that is easy to live in and enjoy.

3) What do you reckon are the biggest challenges in the Ward and how do you want to tackle them?

One of the biggest challenges to the area is rapid development, business creep and unauthorised building work. These pressures have the potential to destroy everything that makes Woodstock so special. I am not opposed to development – a built environment that attracts no development is a stagnant one, and that can lead to urban decay and a whole host of social problems. I would like us – as a community – to plan how development and regeneration takes place in the area, which is why I have been campaigning on the commissioning of a Local Area Development Plan. I want to bring a motion to the Sub-Council (when they are re-constituted) that calls on the City to commission such a plan.

4) What do you like about Woodstock?

There is so much: I love the diversity of the people who live here. I love that it has a sense of community. I love the pedestrian activity…that you see people walking in the streets, with their dogs or children etc. I love its ideal location – it feels convenient to everywhere! I love the mountain (Devil’s Peak) looming as a backdrop.  I love the creativity it has attracted or inspired. And, I love that some people are still discovering it.

Thanks Brett!

What has it been like living in Finland and how has your work been received?

At first it was quite a shift for me. Everything is so different in Finland, from the fact that you can’t speak the language, to the snow covered landscape. Living in Finland has been an amazing experience for me as a person, as well as an artist. It has given me a greater appreciation for what I do, as well as inspired me in so many different ways. Overall, people have been very receptive to my work, the project, as well as the exhibition.

Senyol in his studio in Finland

What is your work currently about?

Mostly my work is informed by colour, shapes, composition, as well as daily life and my interactions with people. I like to view my works as a mouthpiece for hope and encouragement to people, whether they are educated in the arts or not. I hope my work reaches and moves people in a positive way.

The title of our current project is ’6511 MILES’, which is the distance from South Africa to Finland, as the crow flies. 6511 MILES was based on research which I gathered by means of producing a series of 45 notebooks, each with the same set of questions. I distributed and collected these in South Africa and Finland, and then based an artwork on each notebook, which in turn showed a representation of an individual. So you could say they are visual abstract portraits.

Where is your studio and what is it like working there?

I currently work from unit F402 in the Woodstock Industrial Centre. I share the studio with Justin Southey and Bruce Mackay.It is really a great open plan space, with two living areas, a bathroom, kitchen, and a great balcony. Pretty much the ideal space for all of us to work in. I really enjoy the atmosphere whilst working alongside Justin and Bruce, as well as having plenty of time to interact with the other creatives in the building. The Woodstock Industrial Centre is really a melting pot right now, with a cafe, gallery, and so many established and up and coming creative talents working within such close proximity of one another.

Tell us more about your work process.

I Predominantly work on a high quality drawing paper, which is first soaked in water, and then stretched onto a wooden board. This in itself is a labour of love, as the paper can be quite delicate at the best of times. I usually spend a fair amount of time in the library gathering source, typography, imagery, etc. for my artworks. The library is the best place. I spend so much time with old books and the photocopy machine. All the while I have an idea in my head for the artwork; I would usually have a short written piece in a notebook, or some rough composition sketch which I have in mind. Once I have assembled all the pieces, I plot the work out and begin to work on the paper, adding color, and elements as I go along. My work is somewhere between an ordered chaos and a perfect placement of elements which work together to form the final artwork.

What are your favourite Woodstock hangouts?

I quite enjoy taking my bicycle out and just wandering through the streets, getting some fresh air and enjoying old buildings and visiting friends. There are some great views of the ocean and the mountain from Woodstock. I also love our balcony, it has a great view of Table Mountain, out over the harbour and West Coast, and all the way to the Hottentots Holland mountains and Stellenbosch.

When will you get back and what do you miss most about home/Woodstock?

I will be back in sunny Woodstock on the 1 July 2011. I can’t wait; I have achieved everything that Wesley and I originally set out to accomplish here in Finland. I am really happy at the outcome of our project, as well as the possibilities it has opened for us back in South Africa. I miss the smell of the sea, the veg garden on our balcony, the lighthouse, the foghorn, the people, the traffic, and my friends.

What would you miss about Finland?

The endless green forests, Helsinki streets, the archipelago, and of course the good friends I have made here.

Ricky Lee and a local add finishing touches to the mural

Between 10 and 5 and Write on Africa set about a bit of mural painting off Hercules St. in Woodstock on Sunday after paint company Dulux donated 40 litres of paint. The idea behind the event was to involve the local community, both in uplifting the facades of the buildings and in allowing everyone who stays in the street or even just walks by to participate and be creative.

A local lady adds her mark on the wall

This participation is very important to organiser Ricky Lee Gordon, himself a mural artist who works under the name Freddy Sam and who runs the Word of Art exhibition space in the Woodstock Industrial Centre around the corner. Ricky Lee has organised a couple of community mural events in the same area already in conjunction with Adidas and under the name I Art Woodstock. This event was different as it was more of a free-for-all, with no pre-planned art or celebrity mural artists, just tins of paint and the community.

Ricky Lee writes the words “WE LOVE WOODSTOCK” over the finished mural

While writing a final message in big white letters on top of the now very colourful wall, Ricky Lee spoke passionately about the power of art to transform both an individual and a community. This isn’t just something he wants to talk about, he wants to prove it.

“This community is really special” says Ricky Lee. “They have been staying here a  few generations, they all know each other, the children play in the street. There are many temptations out here on the street…. drugs, gangsterism. It’s important that they experience that there are alternative ways in which you can both express yourself and in which you can make a living. And even if you just have some fun with color it’s a positive experience. I handed one kid a paintbrush and he said to me ‘I don’t know how to paint’ and I said to him ‘close your eyes and just make a mess… just go for it!”

By now the Congolese church music from the nearby Kampanganist Church is making itself heard, while more kids show up and ask if they can still contribute. True to the Woodstock street experience I become distracted and  take a short stroll around the few blocks where the I Art murals took place. They really are amazing… turning the little houses into an unexpected street exhibition.

One of the murals previously completed as part of the I Art Woodstock and Adidas project

One of Freddy Sam’s murals as part of the I Art Woodstock and Adidas project

Detail from one of the murals. The t-shirt says it all!

I Love Woodstock Interview with Bulelani Ncaphayi from Nkumbi, Eastern Cape

ILW met up with entrepreneur and bookseller Bulelani Ncaphayi. Some of you may have seen Bulelani selling books outside the Shoprite on Main, Rd. Woodstock, a location usually reserved for sellers of fruit & vegetables, sweets etc. We asked him how he came to be here and what made him choose a life surrounded by books.

Why did you choose Woodstock?

I started in Plumstead with the books. I was near the station but it was too slow. Sometimes, I only got one client a day. So I thought that people were not interested in reading there. Then while I was passing by Woodstock, I saw that the Shoprite was busy. I saw a lot of people coming out of the shop and I thought if I could come here, it would do better.

How long have you been set up here in Woodstock? And what is a typical day for you?

This is my 3rd month now. I come in from Capricorn (a township outside Muizenberg – ed). I rent a small storage space here in woodstock and set up in the morning. If it’s a good day especially in summer I will stay until 5.30 but if it’s cold and windy and it’s a quiet day I might leave at 4.

Do you have regularly customers yet?

Yes I do, three or four of them. But most of them are new customers. I’ve got a good relationship with my clients. The only problem I have is that if someone asks me for a particular book they will go to another bookshop to get it as I can only have so many books. I do write down the books that people are looking for so I can try and find them, but that’s not always possible as I get them from charity shops and they rely on donations.

Why or what made you chose to get involved with books?

I chose books because I want people, especially black people to read. I want people to get back to their roots instead of only going forward with technology, especially those who are in schools. Reading, I think, is the best way for people to change. But when I read books, the way I grew up, I forget about the things that are around me. When you read books, even the paper, you can think positive thoughts and not just focus on the bad things. Also I thought that there are many people who are selling chips, oranges and clothes but there are not many people who are selling books.

When you were growing up in the Eastern Cape where did you get books from?

There were no libraries there because it was a rural area. That was a challenge. I grew up liking reading, any story I could find, short stories, novels. There were very very few people in my village who had books apart from dictionaries and bibles, so you had to get them from the school libraries. Though that is changing now, there are more books now because of the government, not only just those books such as statistics that you read because you have to read them, but you can go to the library and get something you like.

What did you read when you were growing up?

While I was growing up I only had access to isiXhosa books, and only when I went to High School from Standard 8 did I start reading English books. I like some non-fictions but I really like fiction. Stories meant a lot to me. For example, in Grade 7 we acted the “The Merchant of Venice” by Shakespeare. But basically, I would read any stories I could find.

What are your plans for the future?

My plan is to own a bookstore. That will be better than standing here. It’s a good thing to stand here and I know you have to start somewhere, but I am dependant on sunny days, because in winter, like when it rains or it’s very windy I can’t always open. I don’t have any backup, because I live off what I sell.

That’s why I studied Commerce at school. So I can become a successful entrepreneur. Those that know me, they say, the way you grew up it looked like you’ll become something. I was that kind of person who is not shy and who would stand up for himself. I liked to be that kind of guy who did sport, who read, to not be included in any kind of wrong stuff.

And my wish was to write a book. Which I did. Now, I really want to publish it.

Tell me about the book, this is a book that you wrote?

Yes. It is called “Ukuba NdandiPhuphulle” which means “I wish I had listened to my parents”. The only thing that I am short of is a publisher. And information on how I can publish my book. I wrote it in isiXhosa not in English. It’s a book which I believe will change many young people’s perceptions, the way they think. It starts in my rural area, and it gives you that idea that if you grow up in place, in a family like mine, that is so poor, you mustn’t limit your chances, you must go forward and think what is best for you instead of going to just rob.

Also in my book, there is a character, a lady, who falls pregnant while she was at school and her friends when they pass her on the street, they become thieves. If you notice, according to us Africans black and white, most of the people who dump school or do drugs, most of them fell pregnant at school. And now they have something to look after instead of focusing fully and they can’t reach their goals in life.

I Love Woodstock wishes Bulelani well. Visit him next time you are near the Shoprite on Main Road!