Johannesburg: A City That Lives Within Me

There’s a city that sits deep in my heart, a place that shaped me in ways I can’t fully articulate yet feel every time I reflect. Johannesburg—Joburg to those who know its heartbeat—is the place where I spent my most beautiful years. It’s where my parents are buried, where the streets whispered stories I longed to understand, and where I came to know the extremes of love and loneliness, joy and pain.

I wasn’t born there, and I’m not from there, but Joburg holds me in a way that feels like home. It’s the place where I’ve made connections. It’s where I grew up, both physically and emotionally, facing the highs and lows of life, finding beauty in its chaos and strength in its relentless pace.

The city moved fast, and I learned to move with it, though not without moments of feeling as though the world might swallow me whole. That moment, in particular, was when I lost my parents—when life itself seemed to turn against me. The tide changed, the current came at me, and I wasn’t even sure if I was fighting back. I was just going through the motions, and if I had given in, I would’ve sunk. But I didn’t. I’m still here, standing. Those times, when I felt the rug was pulled from under me again, were the hardest, but they didn’t break me.

The people of Joburg fascinated me. I didn’t take taxis often—maybe about 20 times in my life—but every time I did, I observed the vibrant world around me. Sitting there, I watched life unfold in fragments: phone calls, casual remarks, bits of life shared with strangers. These moments offered glimpses into the daily struggles and triumphs of others. Even though I wasn’t a frequent taxi user, those few moments gave me insights into lives different from my own, lives that were still so interconnected with mine through the simple act of sharing space.

One of my most cherished memories was driving with my family during springtime. We would often drive up to Pretoria—a neighboring city to Joburg—where I’d witness the magic of the jacarandas in full bloom. (Granted, I’m pretty sure they also bloomed in Joburg, but they’ve always stood out to me more in Pretoria.) I never fully understood why we always seemed to go during that season, but it was the only time of year I got to see the jacarandas, their vibrant purple blossoms carpeting the streets. It was a fleeting beauty, one I could only experience during those spring drives, but it left an impression that has stayed with me ever since.

Joburg wasn’t just a place of beauty for me. It was also where I found myself at my loneliest, where I learned to find solace in my own company, preferring the quiet of my thoughts to the chaos of the world outside. The last few years in Joburg were especially hard. I lost my parents there. I lost pieces of myself. The city nearly broke me, but in the breaking, I also found strength. It’s strange how a place can be both your sanctuary and your battleground.

But even in the darkest times, Joburg held a light for me. I grew up attending celebrations with my family—Christmas, Easter, church events. My parents carefully curated a community around us, one that I now look back on with fondness. Joburg is a city of contrasts, a place where the joy of community and the loneliness of isolation can coexist, where the pursuit of dreams can bring both fulfillment and heartache.

I love this city. I love its people—the vibrant, inspiring souls who move through it, each with a story of their own. Joburg is alive in a way that few places are. It’s a city where I experienced my most beautiful years and where I faced my greatest trials. It’s a place that, despite its chaos, feels like it holds my soul.

And though the last few years in Joburg were hell, though I have scars from my time there, I have no regrets. Joburg made me who I am. It’s a city that taught me resilience, love, appreciation, and the value of holding onto hope even when the world feels like it’s falling apart.

Joburg isn’t just a city to me. It’s part of me. It’s the place I call home, the place that knows my joys and my sorrows, my laughter and my tears. A city I love. A city I will always love.