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Time Out
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Cape Town shines as global diversity hotspot
South Africans have long known that our cities are cultural crossroads - a mix of traditions, identities, languages and lived experiences that shape everything from our food to our festivals. Now, the world agrees. In Time Out's annual global city survey of over 18,000 people across 50 cities, Cape Town and Johannesburg have been jointly ranked ninth on the list of the world's most diverse and inclusive cities, according to locals. The list, topped by London, celebrates cities where people feel welcomed, represented and free to be themselves - and we're proud to be a beacon of belonging in the Global South. These are the most diverse and inclusive cities in the world London, UK Melbourne, Australia Brighton, UK = New York, USA Los Angeles, USA Chicago, USA Madrid, Spain Barcelona, Spain Bangkok, Thailand Johannesburg, South Africa= Cape Town, South Africa Montreal, Canada= Medellin, Colombia= Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia= San Francisco, USA What Makes Cape Town a Standout? Cape Town's inclusion on the list is a testament to its layered identity - beautiful and complex, shaped by centuries of cultural collision, resistance and reinvention. Here are three ways the Mother City is embodying a more inclusive spirit: 1. A Living Archive of Resistance and Representation From Robben Island to District Six, Cape Town's historical landmarks are not just tourist stops, but powerful reminders of struggle, displacement and the fight for dignity. Today, this legacy lives on in grassroots organisations, activist-led art spaces, and community museums that centre marginalised voices. 2. LGBTQ+ visibility and safer spaces Cape Town has long been known as South Africa's 'pink capital'. The list is a nod to the cities queer-friendly nightlife, inclusive events like Cape Town Pride, and safe spaces that range from community centres to cutting-edge drag shows. Ongoing work by local LGBTQ+ groups also pushes beyond visibility into advocacy and healthcare access in our city. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cape Town Pride (@capetownpride) 3. Cultural Neighbourhoods pushing artistic accessibility Each suburb tells its own story: the Cape Malay heritage of Bo-Kaap, the Afro-centric pride in Langa and Khayelitsha, and the coastal charm of communities like Muizenberg and Kalk Bay, where surf culture and township-run coffee shops co-exist. These layers are what make Cape Town's cultural landscape both challenging and extraordinary. Also, inclusive theatre productions at Artscape and the Baxter Theatre and contemporary African art at Zeitz MOCCA adds to the events designed to be accessible across income brackets and mobility levels. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Baxter (@baxtertheatre) A shared Honour with Jozi! Johannesburg's equal ranking comes as no surprise. Known as the country's financial engine and cultural nerve centre, the city pulses with Afro-urban energy, youth-led innovation and unapologetic authenticity. As cities around the world wrestle with rising inequality and cultural homogenisation, it's affirming to see two South African cities celebrated not just for their beauty or buzz - but for how they make their residents feel. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Johannesburg (@ Here at Time Out Cape Town we're excited to amplify these very aspects of our city. In our new Time Out Cape Town editorial series The Culture Edit, we're asking critical questions about the South African identity. What does inclusion look like beyond surface-level representation? And how do we avoid flattening cultures into commercial soundbites.
Time Out
23-04-2025
- Time Out
Cape Town hotel makes global Top 100 list
A list recently released by Travel + Leisure of the top new hotels to stay at around the world has included Cape Town's very own Cape Grace, A Fairmont Managed Hotel! Yes, we know the Cape Grace isn't exactly new, but it went through some extensive refurbishments and unveiled those changes in 2024, which made it a worthy contender for this 2025 list of hotels to visit globally. Unsurprisingly, the Cape Grace is also on our list of Cape Town's best hotels, where our Local Expert Richard Holmes describes it as being 'infused with a bright contemporary aesthetic and a focus on African art that runs from the lobby to the rooms, blending the Cape Grace's sense of classical elegance with a dose of Afro-centric flair'. Cape Grace is joined on the list by a South African lodge located in the Soutpansberg mountain range. Few & Far Luvhondo is located close to the border with Zimbabwe. This exclusive lodge has just six suites and offers some of the best game viewing in the country from a cable car! Representing Africa Eight hotels and lodges across Africa also made the cut, with the likes of Kenya, Morocco, Botswana and Seychelles being recognised for their incredible hospitality sectors. The eight are: Jannah Lamu, Kenya Kibale Lodge, Uganda Mara Toto Tree Camp, Masai Mara, Kenya Royal Mansour Casablanca, Morocco Voaara Madagascar Wilderness Bisate Reserve, Rwanda Atzaró Okavango, Botswana Cheval Blanc Seychelles Cunard's Queen Anne Time Out Cape Town recently got the chance to visit Cunard's Queen Anne while docked at the V&A Waterfront. This impressive cruise liner also made the list - and we can see why after having the pleasure of stepping on board.
Boston Globe
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
BAMS Fest is getting bigger this year
Venues for Momentum events announced so far include the Sinclair in Cambridge, where a showcase of eight local musical acts will take place on June 25; the Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Morris, who described herself as the child of 'four or five' generations of Bostonians, said she doesn't often hear the word 'soul' associated with the city. 'I've heard unique, I've heard interesting…I've heard boring,' she said with a laugh. 'We don't have that kind of cool factor that other comparable cities have…those words that would draw people or even keep people here.' But with BAMS, the Afro-centric arts organization she founded in 2015, she's on a mission to change that. 'There's a lot of work to do, and this festival, coupled with Momentum, we believe…will start to allow words like soul, and cool, and fun, to truly be associated with our city.' Advertisement From the time of the festival's inception, the goal was always to become large enough to cover Franklin Park's Playstead Field and 'eventually include other parts of the park, so that folks can really experience this green space that sits in the heart of our community,' Morris said. However, the idea for Momentum was born out of 'recognizing that Boston was still not being taken seriously as a creative hub and a cultural destination,' and a desire on the part of BAMS and its local partners, which include Berklee College of Music, the Female DJ Association and Bogosplit, to 'shed light on what Boston does.' The goal of Momentum is to 'expand the opportunities of discovery,' discovering new art, new friendships, and 'being able to truly be in a place of belonging and vulnerability, but also be able to build camaraderie amongst each other,' Morris said. 'We're trying to break down those barriers and walls.' A.Z. Madonna can be reached at
