Of Soul and Joy

Photographic practice as a tool for emancipation

Thokoza, South Africa

Since 2012

Of Soul and Joy is a social and artistic mentoring programme created in 2012 by Rubis Mécénat to enable young people aged 13 to 30, from the township of Thokoza and surrounding areas of Johannesburg, to benefit from a framework and training in the field of photography. This tailor-made support system allows them to cultivate artistic expression and access new professional paths, so that they can in turn have a positive impact on their communities. 

In addition to artistic training, the project offers its beneficiaries further training (professional practices, English, life skills, etc.) and access to a network of key players in the local and international cultural scene. Each year, the project awards academic scholarships to the most promising students for higher education programmes in photography at a university of their choice, including the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg. 

At the same time, Of Soul and Joy conducts intensive workshops to introduce photography to people who are not typically exposed to art in rural areas and hostels in South Africa and, more broadly, across Africa (Morocco, Mali). 

The project also helps discover new talent and inspire future careers: photographer Lindokhule Sobekwa is now a member of Magnum Photos, and photographer Tshepiso Mazibuko was featured at the Rencontres d’Arles for the 2024 Discovery Award Louis Roederer Foundation.
Furthermore, numerous artists and professionals are invited to conduct workshops within the project. 

Project Manager: Jabulani Dhlamini, photographer

PRESS KIT 2026 5MB

 

Of Soul and Joy is an arts initiative to think about humanity, freedom and the play of making.

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#ofsoulandjoy

Vocational integration programme through photography by @rubismecenat
Since 2012
THOKOZA, JHB

JOIN US!!! 📍@_marketphotoworkshop 🗓 28 MAY JOIN US!!! 📍@_marketphotoworkshop 🗓 28 MAY 2026 🕙 10:00 - 13:00 Some of the most important stories are not told alone. They are shaped in conversation. In community. In the spaces where people feel seen enough to share honestly. The Living Frame: Photography, Legacy & Access is more than a roundtable discussion. It is a reflection on what happens when photographers, institutions, mentors and communities work together to shape the future of visual storytelling in South Africa. This conversation brings together Of Soul and Joy and Market Photo Workshop, two institutions whose work over the last decade has helped create pathways, platforms and possibilities for emerging and established photographers alike. Together, we will unpack the role community plays in photography beyond the image itself: • Who gets access to tell stories? • What does meaningful representation actually look like? • How do we create environments where photographers feel supported, challenged and encouraged to develop their own voice? • What responsibility comes with documenting people, places and lived realities? • And how do we preserve authenticity, care and context in a world moving faster than ever? Photography has always been about more than cameras. As we reflect on the past ten years of growth, mentorship, collaboration and change within South African photography, this discussion also asks an important question about the future: What becomes possible when creative communities choose collaboration over competition? This will be a space for reflection, honesty and dialogue... celebrating the people, partnerships and collective efforts that continue to expand photography as a shared cultural practice. We would love to hear from you below: What role has community played in your own creative journey? And do you believe representation behind the camera is just as important as representation in front of it? #TheLivingFrame #PhotographyLegacyAndAccess #SouthAfricanPhotography #DocumentaryPhotography

JOIN US!!! 📍@_marketphotoworkshop 🗓 28 MAY 2026 🕙 10:00 - 13:00 Some of the most important stories are not told alone. They are shaped in conversation. In community. In the spaces where people feel seen enough to share honestly. The Living Frame: Photography, Legacy & Access is more than a roundtable discussion. It is a reflection on what happens when photographers, institutions, mentors and communities work together to shape the future of visual storytelling in South Africa. This conversation brings together Of Soul and Joy and Market Photo Workshop, two institutions whose work over the last decade has helped create pathways, platforms and possibilities for emerging and established photographers alike. Together, we will unpack the role community plays in photography beyond the image itself: • Who gets access to tell stories? • What does meaningful representation actually look like? • How do we create environments where photographers feel supported, challenged and encouraged to develop their own voice? • What responsibility comes with documenting people, places and lived realities? • And how do we preserve authenticity, care and context in a world moving faster than ever? Photography has always been about more than cameras. As we reflect on the past ten years of growth, mentorship, collaboration and change within South African photography, this discussion also asks an important question about the future: What becomes possible when creative communities choose collaboration over competition? This will be a space for reflection, honesty and dialogue... celebrating the people, partnerships and collective efforts that continue to expand photography as a shared cultural practice. We would love to hear from you below: What role has community played in your own creative journey? And do you believe representation behind the camera is just as important as representation in front of it? #TheLivingFrame #PhotographyLegacyAndAccess #SouthAfricanPhotography #DocumentaryPhotography