township art tours

Township Art Tours

Township Art Tours is a small ecotourism business operating in the heart of Cape Town, South Africa. Our tours let you experience Cape Town's soul of street art, food and people. Our tours immerse you into the rhythm of two Cape Town communities; Woodstock and Khayelitsha, where will you experience a unique taste of South Africa. We invite you to join us in creating memories, building friendships and giving back to the community as you interact with locals. We offer you the opportunity to learn and create by painting your own street art, cooking or planting vegetable gardens for and with the community.

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For an Intimate Look at South Africa’s Booming Art Scene, Head to the Townships

Artists from the districts are turning their own homes into welcoming galleries and workshops and providing a much more rewarding experience..

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Langa Township is brimming with art, both on the streets and in private homes.

By Tony Campbell / Shutterstock

Bent over a table in the dimly lit kitchen of his home in Cape Town’s Langa Township, Velile Soha sinks the U-shaped end of a wood-handled linoleum cutter into a small square of the matte, black material. Holding it at a shallow angle, he firmly pushes the tool forward.

As the cutter glides through the linoleum, narrow strips curl up and away from the tile’s surface. Soha plucks the loosened pieces free to reveal a grid of gray lines, then hollows out half a dozen alternating squares to complete his checkerboard-like design. While carving his initials into the tile, Soha says, “My name is Velile. The name Veli means to appear, or to show. It is a Xhosa name.”

The translation is fitting. Soha—a 50-something artist whose home is also a display space for his own prints, watercolors, abstracts, and other pieces—is showing a small group of travelers the basics of printmaking.

Using a paint roller, he coats the tile’s surface in deep black ink, then presses it onto a waiting sheet of white paper. Seconds later, he peels the tile away and a crisp, mirror image of his design pops out on the page. With the lesson complete, it’s his guests’ turn to try.

Velile Soha showcases his work in his own home on the tour.

Photo by Lindsay Lambert Day

Compared to museums, studios, and classrooms in city centers, Soha’s own home might seem like an unlikely setting for a workshop like this. But in Langa, the scenario is becoming more common. He is one of several artists in Cape Town and Johannesburg who have partnered with Maboneng Township Arts Experience , an organization founded in Johannesburg in 2001 that helps artists living in townships near the two cities turn their homes into galleries.

For visitors, these art-themed tours of the townships give glimpses into an often overlooked side of local life and provide immediate context and insight that is missing from urban galleries. For artists and locals living in the more removed and frequently impoverished districts, the trips bring them a whole new audience and potential customers.

View this post on Instagram Is the township a different place? Book a tour and you tell us. www.maboneng.com #TownshipsIntoTowns A post shared by Maboneng Township Arts (@maboneng_arts) on Mar 24, 2018 at 6:54am PDT

Artists on the outskirts

Although Soha, who is said to be the oldest printmaker in Langa, has exhibited his work in some of Cape Town’s high-end galleries, many artists who hail from the townships have found breaking into the cities’ respective crowded art scenes almost impossible.

Sephiwe Ngwenya , Maboneng Arts’ founder and a native of Alexandra Township in Johannesburg, started the business after struggling to find space for his own work in the capital city’s galleries.

In 2001, after graduating from Johannesburg’s National School of the Arts, Sephiwe “walked with his artwork for two hours [to galleries in Johannesburg], and when he got there he was actually told about a two-year waiting list,” his brother, Bongani, Maboneng’s experience manager, tells us during our tour. “That encouraged him to go back into Alexandra Township to then partner up with other creatives who were struggling to showcase their artwork.”

Bongani Ngwenya showcases some of James Mosoke-Lulu’s artworks.

“When Sephiwe first came to Cape Town in 2008, he already had artist friends, so they were the ones who connected him to Velile,” Ngwenya says of the organization’s early days in the city. “So when we first had our festival here in Langa Township, it was easy for us to go out and look for other like-minded artists. And over the years, we just create a bond and a relationship with the homeowners, and they’re able to introduce us to others. It takes time.”

Maboneng Arts currently partners with eight households in Langa—up from four just earlier this year.

Some of the owners are, like Soha, artists. Others are non-artists who offer up their property as exhibit space. One such resident we meet later in our tour is Hazel Siyaya, a retired schoolteacher. Her porch and living room walls are replete with works by artist James Musoke-Lule, a Uganda native and Cape Town resident who makes elaborate, beaded textiles and uses denim discarded from Cape Town’s old garment mills as his canvas for painting.

“Hazel lives here with her children. This is a family of 11,” says Bongani Ngwenya as he shows the small group of guests to her door. “She’s responsible for every one of them. Her daughter works, and she is employed by us, bringing visitors into her house.

“The whole idea is to make sure that people who live in [townships] take advantage of the tourism footfall that comes into Langa,” Ngwenya continues. “So we have made sure that we have created an ecosystem model where everyone actually benefits from those travelers who do visit Langa Township.”

Visitors have historically been wary of going to townships due to safety concerns . The Maboneng Arts initiative helps bring them to the areas, providing a stable source of income to the artists and gallery homeowners, and drives tourist traffic to the neighborhoods at large.

That means that cultural sites and community centers, such as Nelson Mandela’s former home in Johannesburg, the Guga S’thebe Arts & Cultural Center , and the Langa Heritage Museum in Langa, also benefit. During some tour stops, travelers can purchase gifts and artworks made by local craftsmen and women—sometimes directly from them, and often for less than $20 or $30.

“We want to change the way tourism is done in these areas so that more and more people can benefit,” Ngwenya says.

Art peers out from all kinds of surfaces in Langa township.

Photo by LIndsay Lambert Day

A hands-on, in-home experience In addition to the guided walking tours of gallery homes, guests who want to try their hand at creating something of their own can sign up for workshops, like the one offered by Soha.

These include an introductory mosaic-making class, a cookery class focused on magwenya (dense, doughy pastries), and a denim-painting workshop.

Regardless of whether guests come for a full day or a half day, and whether they opt for a walking tour or a workshop, they’ll be treated to an experience that is, arguably, far more personal and intimate than any traditional gallery can provide.

For the group of guests arriving at Hazel Siyaya’s house, that means finding her kitchen table set with warm casseroles, bowlfuls of cooked vegetables, and two tall, label-less bottles of ginger beer, all homemade in anticipation of their lunchtime arrival. Their visit might be short, but as long as they’re here, they’ll be fed like family.

“We just want to make sure that anyone who does come into Langa Township, or Alexandra Township, is able to immerse themselves in the community and become part of it by the time they leave,” Ngwenya says.

Full-day gallery-home tours (five hours) in Langa and Alexandra are $109; half-day tours (three hours) are $74. Workshops (from two hours) start at $60. Transportation service is offered for R200.00 (approximately $13.50 ).

>> Next: Cape Town Celebrates Nelson Mandela with Powerful Tributes and a New Visitor Trail

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Maboneng Township Art Experience: Langa

Dates: 15 June 2021 to 9 July 2021

Venue address: Washington St, Langa, Cape Town

Tel: 068 023 5048

The details

Maboneng Township Experiences is a non-profit organization that aims to transform townships attractions and creative districts. The non-profit has created many home galleries in Langa and invites guests to take a township art and community tour in Cape Town’s oldest township.

The tour experience offers three guided tours in Cape Town: a half-day and full-day township art tour and a Table Mountain and Langa township art tour. In the Langa Township Art tour patrons visit gallery homes, stop by the Langa Heritage Museum, and read about the history of the township at the mosaic pillars.

The graffiti route is part of the tour and the student uprising in 1976 is discussed as the tour visits Xolilie Mosi’s monument. A traditional meal can be expected at both the half-day and full-day tours, however, the full-day tour also includes the opportunity to participate in an arts and music workshop.

The Table Mountain and Langa Township Art tour visit artist James Musoke-Lule at a popular Tanzanian restaurant as he leads guests around the city centre and shares his stories of the victories and defeats of being an artist in Africa. Musoke-Lule and guests stop by his studio and then move on to Langa to see the galleries where he and fellow artists exhibit their work. One of these artists is Velile Soha, who will lead a printmaking workshop in his gallery home.

Full day tours last five hours, while half day tours last three. Maboneng Township Arts Experience Tours are family-friendly and all ages are welcome.

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Williamstown Township Artists' Fine Art Sale & Studio Tour

Art Tour 2023 Project has ended. Please look for Art Tour 2024 Project in coming months.

After a three-year absence, the annual Williamstown Township Artists' Fine Art Sale and Studio Tour will return May 5th and 6th, 2023. Featuring local artists and art groups displaying and selling art from their homes and studios; 2023 will be the 12th season of the popular community event. Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the Township playgrounds. Tickets are $5.00/person. Each ticket includes entrance during this two day event and you may enter a raffle to win your favorite artist's art work. Tickets available here . Once the link opens, please click on the event name and select a date. Your ticket will apply to both dates. Tickets also available at the Township Hall (4990 Zimmer Road, Williamston), Williamston Wellness (1235 E. Grand River Road, Williamston), or at the artist's studios during the tour. Check out our FAQs on the right. Have you participated in past Art Tours as an artist or guest? As we gear up to organize the event we would love to hear your experiences and ideas to improve the tour. Please take our short survey below and remember to sign our guest book.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ART RAFFLE WINNERS!!!

Image above: "Lily Pond" Watercolor. By Artist Cindy Evans

Williamstown Township Artists' Fine Art Sale and Studio Tour Survey

Thank you for your interest in the Art Tour. By participating in this survey valuable feedback will be provided to our event organizers.

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Williamstown Township

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Fine Art Sale & Studio Tour Brochure with map

Art Tour Raffle

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The Exclusive Choice

• Visit bustling craft markets • Meet a traditional healer or ‘sangoma’ • Try daring local delicacies • Enjoy drinks at a shebeen, or local pub

By lunchtime, it’s time to test your food limits. Street food stalls often offer daring local dishes, including ‘smileys’ (or sheep’s heads) and ‘walkie talkies’ (chicken feet and heads). Wash one of these delicacies down with a millet beer, served at township taverns called shebeens.

Sangoma A traditional healer, known as a sangoma, is a practitioner of traditional African medicine in Southern Africa. They are viewed as powerful individuals and fulfil different social and political roles in the community including divination and healing physical, emotional and spiritual illnesses. These healers are highly revered and respected in a society where illness is often thought to be caused by witchcraft, pollution or contact with impure objects or occurrences, or by neglecting the ancestors. These visits offer insights into the cultural significance of these healers, and an introduction to the powders, potions and healing salves they offer.

Craft Markets Explore the vibrant talent and skill of local tradespeople at various craft markets, which feature sought after objects such as masks and wooden carvings, beaded dolls, wire baskets and a variety of indigenous objects from many African destinations. Impressive selections of African artwork, pottery and ceramics are also on offer, providing a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

Shebeens A place to savour a cold drink and meet with like-minded people, shebeens played an essential role in South Africa’s pre¬‐democratic social and political history. During apartheid, shebeens often served as meeting places for political dissidents, but they have since crossed over from makeshift taverns to mainstream venues for relaxing and socialising.

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Amid the food stalls, look for traditional healers or ‘sangomas’, selling herbs and animal parts used to treat ailments of heartbreak and heartburn. Be sure to chat with the sangoma about your own needs and see what treatment is suggested.

In some townships, cultural and artistic precincts have been established as centres of local art, theatre and culture. Others give their turbulent history a voice in museums that detail the township’s place during apartheid times. Today, these neighbourhoods of resilient and welcoming locals give visitors a deeper glimpse into local culture.

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Kissing Bridge Art Tour

Woolwich Township Self Guided Art Tour

Call for Entry for the 2024 Kissing Bridge Art Tour is now open

Follow THIS LINK to see a full list of last year’s participating artists.

• Toureka! Kissing Bridge Art Tour Toureka App

Copyright © 2021. all rights reserved toursoweto. All Photos are copyrighted to Ilan Ossendryver. More information here...

Juma Mkwela- born in Malawi and raised in Zimbabwe- is an

artist with a big heart, bright smile and a passion for his various

communities. After fleeing political, social and economic turmoil,

Juma moved to South Africa in hopes of a better future. While in

South Africa, Juma became a victim of the xenphobic attacks that

swept through the townships across the country. When reflecting

on his experience, Juma recognized that many xenophobic actions

stem from a lack of education and understanding of other cultures.

Combining his love for art and craft, along with his new desire to

educate, Juma set out to share his own interests by teaching the

community through art leadership and development programs.

In 2009, Juma met the famous South African street artist, Freddy

Sam, who exposed him to the beautiful and powerful impact of

murals. The inspiration that stemmed from meeting Freddy, as

well as the growth in public interest for street art, prompted the birth of Juma Art Tours.

Juma believes in the potential and the positive impact that street art can have in the township communities, such as his own home in Khayelitsha. Street art allows artists to tell their story to a larger audience in a more permanent space. In addition, street art creates a beautiful space within the communities that makes residents eager to get their spaces painted as well.

The goal of Juma Art Tours is to create a positive and sustainable change. Juma promotes responsible tourism in which guests are able to make an impact while immersing in the culture they are visiting. Guests can choose to get involved in tours that allow them to get their hands dirty -whether it be through painting or gardening- and feel accomplished after their tour knowing that they left a permanent mark on the culture they engaged in. Today, Juma’s work in Khayelitsha has grown into a small team of six that promotes the township’s art scene even further and tries to create awareness and development opportunities for local artists. Overall, Juma connects the wealth of local artists who are eager to get their voices heard to the public, and brings the tourists from all over to listen to their stories being told.

More From Forbes

Discover 7 must-do activities in stellenbosch, south africa.

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Equally rich in wine and natural beauty, Stellenbosch offers extraordinary experiences that cater to ... [+] both the wine aficionado and the enthusiastic traveler alike.

Set in the heart of South Africa's Western Cape, Stellenbosch is widely regarded as one of the top wine regions in the world. Famed for its full-bodied reds and crisp chenin blancs, the region is equally acclaimed for its jaw-dropping landscape of lush vineyards set against towering mountains. Equally rich in wine and natural beauty, Stellenbosch offers extraordinary experiences that cater to both the wine aficionado and the enthusiastic traveler alike. Here’s some of the best things to do on your visit to this remarkable region.

The incredible view from Jordan's outdoor tasting room.

Jordan Wines

If you can visit only one winery in Stellenbosch, Jordan is the one not to miss. This leading estate offers an unparalleled experience that combines world-class wines with captivating scenery and engaging activities.

Start your tasting experience by savoring Jordan's exquisite wines on their outdoor deck, where you'll be awed not just by the flavors of the wines but equally by stunning views of the majestic Stellenbosch Mountains. For an even more immersive experience, go on the unique 360° tasting tour, which takes you on a vehicle ride through the picturesque vineyards complete with gorgeous vistas of False Bay and Table Bay. You’ll enjoy premium tastings as you take in the views and learn about the flora and fauna of the Cape Winelands.

After your wine tasting, indulge in an unforgettable culinary journey at The Jordan Restaurant, helmed by the celebrated Chef Marthinus Ferreira. This sought-after dining destination offers an elevated farm-to-table experience that shows off the rich flavors and ingredients of Stellenbosch and South Africa. The multicourse dining feast, paired with thoughtfully selected wines, is a truly unparalleled gastronomic feast that ranks as one of the top dining experiences in the country.

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Finally, as if offering a word-class dining and tasting experience were not enough, Jordan also offers luxury accommodation in the heart of the winelands. These beautifully appointed suites are a welcome getaway with unmatched panoramas of the vineyards and the Stellenbosch Mountains.

Le Grand Domaine Enoteca Wine Bar

Located on Stellenbosch’s bustling Church Street, this trendy wine bar is beloved by oenophiles and prides itself on showcasing the top vintages the area has to offer. There are over 30 of the best regional wines available for side-by-side tastings, making it an essential stop for those looking to explore Stellenbosch’s impressive range of vineyards. Enoteca is also an eatery favoured by locals that serves bistro-style fare like Darling sauvignon blanc steamed mussels, truffle parmesan fries, delicious kingklip and more. It’s an ideal spot to wine and dine with fellow noble grape lovers.

Middelvlei stands out as one of the few wineries (or wine farms, as they’re called in South Africa) ... [+] in the region that invites guests to experience firsthand the creative process of wine making with its wine blending experience.

Middelvlei stands out as one of the few wineries (or wine farms, as they’re called in South Africa) in the region that invites guests to experience firsthand the creative process of winemaking with its wine blending experience. The session begins with a guided tasting, where you'll learn about the nuanced flavors of Pinotage, merlot and shiraz, accompanied by freshly baked potbrood and a delectable snoek pate. Next, you take on the role of wine maker as you blend the varietals to create your very own bottle of personalized wine that you get to take home with you. There’s no better souvenir of Stellenbosch! Don’t leave without grabbing lunch at the winery’s Boerebraai Restaurant, where you’ll be treated to an authentic South African braai (barbeque), including perfectly grilled lamb and sausage, as well as incredibly tasty pumpkin fritters and Braaibroodjies (barbecued cheese and tomato sandwiches).

Weltevreden Estate Winery

This historic boutique winery, renown for its line of bold Bertha wines, offers something for every interest and age range. The most popular experience is the handmade macaron and wine pairing, which allows visitors to indulge in a delightful fusion of flavors. The winery is also home to the exceptional Jonkershuis restaurant, where guests can savor elevated cuisine in a friendly atmosphere. Families with young kids won’t want to miss the Kids Carnival area, providing an entertaining space for children to enjoy while their parents explore the estate’s acclaimed outdoor art collection.

Stellenbosch is best discovered via walking tour so you can see first hand the lovely Cape Dutch ... [+] architecture, art scene and lively street life.

Stellenbosch On Foot

Stellenbosch is not just the name of an acclaimed wine region, it’s also a beautiful city with a fascinating history and vibrant art and food scene. It’s worth spending the time to get to know this bucolic university town and one of the best ways to do so is via a walking tour. Led by knowledgeable guides like Juliana, Stellenbosch on Foot offers a historic tour that gives participants an intimate look at Stellenbosch's stately, oak-lined avenues, interesting historic personalities and iconic Cape Dutch architecture.

As you stroll through the "village of the oaks," your enthusiastic guide shares fascinating stories and insights into one of South Africa’s key historic urban centers. Guides also freely dispense insider advice on the best not-to-be-missed eateries, local shops and picturesque streets during the pleasant promenade. Art-focused walking tours (Stellenbosch is one of the country’s premier art centers and has stunning displays peppered throughout) are also available.

Kayamandi Township Tour

Discover a different side to Stellenbosch as you explore Kayamandi, the second oldest township in the country. The walking tour of Kayamandi, which means "nice home" in Xhosa, is done with a local guide and provides guests with a unique insight into the area’s complex and dynamic history and culture. Highlights include street art, the chance to meet local entrepreneurs and sampling traditional foods. Also considering signing up for the Djembe drumming session.

It may be worth hiring a professional driver to navigate South Africa's most celebrated wine region.

Oswald Tours

When visiting the winelands, it’s important to keep in mind that there is no viable public transportation and renting a car can be difficult for those who want to go on several wine tastings and are not used to driving on the left side of the road. That where Oswald Tours comes in. The company offers affordable and reliable personalized chauffeur services, ensuring that you can enjoy your wine tastings and explore the region in comfort. Their knowledgeable, friendly drivers (like Francois) are equally as skilled at driving safely as they are at providing insightful and engaging commentary about the wine region’s' rich history and culture. The company also offer airport pickups, as well as a variety of pre-set tours like Cape Town and whale watching.

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Join the community of turning townships into towns

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The Maboneng Township Arts Experience is a non profit destination development initiative. The organisation turns homes in townships into attractions and communities into creative districts. We train and upskill homeowners and families to create a warm intimate creative environment between townships, rural areas and cities; for locals and international visitors alike.

In the past 2 decades, Maboneng Township Arts Experience has created experiences in South African communities that have led a multitude of visitors from all over the world to these new centres of culture.

The name Maboneng is a Sesotho word for a place of lights. After being called Dark City because it had no electricity, Alexandra Township residents nicknamed their township to Alexandra Maboneng meaning Alexandra - A Place of Lights. A good fit to be the birth place of The Maboneng Township Arts Experience & its founder Siphiwe Ngwenya

Our Founder

Siphiwe Ngwenya

The founder.

“After struggling to exhibit my own works earlier on in my career, I ended up exhibiting in the streets and homes of my own community. And now, we’ve created experiences that solve the problem of artists looking for space, families looking for work and the township looking for its place in the world. Join me in my journey of turning townships into towns and exploring new frontiers of my creative career.”

The organisation’s programmes contribute substantially towards training, women and youth empowerment, income generation, as well as the advancement of inclusive and responsible tourism in South Africa. The ongoing programmes impact the cultural, social, economic and environmental conditions of all participants. They transform the local tourism economy and improve the quality of life for the long run. We do not just do poverty tourism, we do development tourism. When you book your tour, we build our South African Townships at the same time. We are the first African black owned tourism and community development non profit with such impact accolades. Our community members that are partners in the experiences earn a living from your gracious bookings. Their children are inspired on every tour to follow a career in the arts and in tourism. Our goal of turning townships into towns through the arts comes even closer with people that want their travel experiences to be a building experience.

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Pallone Secures Nearly $1 Million to Upgrade Communications System for First Responders in Piscataway

Piscataway, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today held a press conference to highlight federal funding he secured for Piscataway. Pallone secured $963,000 in a federal spending bill for the Township to upgrade its police communications system and improve interoperability between township officials and other police agencies. President Biden signed the legislation into law on March 8.

This project will allow Piscataway’s Police Department to purchase new computer equipment, hand-held radios and related accessories, CCTV, and other vital communications equipment to help improve the response times and abilities.

“After Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Ida, residents in Piscataway know all too well how important reliable and efficient communication is during any type of emergency. That’s why I’m proud that this federal funding will help Piscataway upgrade its radio infrastructure.

“First responders are an important part in keeping our community safe and healthy. They deserve the resources they need to do their job effectively, which includes equipping our brave first responders with the tools they need to respond to any type of crisis quickly and effectively,” Pallone said . “I’m glad we were able to get this funding across the finish line.”

“Representative Pallone responded to the needs of Piscataway and now Piscataway can better respond to those in danger,” Mayor Brian C. Wahler said .  “Our residents are very thankful to him for this important federal investment in the security of our Township.”

“Safety depends on real-time information and when the public is counting on our first responders, our first responders are counting on a reliable communication system” Piscataway Township Police Department Deputy Chief Michelle Pilch said . “That is why this federal funding boost to Piscataway is so vital because it strengthens our ability to serve the public.”

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Proud mom Madonna says her kids have put ‘blood, sweat and tears’ into Celebration Tour performances

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Madonna is proud of her children for working hard as performers in her ongoing Celebration Tour. 

“I think what my children learned the most in this year of rehearsing and performing is that if you want to follow your dreams, you have to work hard for them,” the pop superstar, 65, said in an interview with W magazine published Wednesday. 

“And if all of them choose something different later in life, they will never forget this year of blood, sweat, and tears.”

As Madonna prepared to hit the road for the concert series — a spectacle that honors her four decades in the spotlight — she tapped her four youngest kids, David, 18, Mercy, also 18, plus 11-year-old twins Stella and Estere, to showcase their unique talents on stage. 

“Because the Celebration Tour is a retrospective of my life, I thought it made perfect sense to include all of my children still living with me in the show; they all dance and play musical instruments, and have been doing so for years,” the “Ray of Light” singer told the publication. 

“David has played guitar since he was a child. Mercy has played piano since she was 8 and she’s been classically trained most of her life. Eventually, when I adopted the twins, they started to play piano and dance as well.”

Madonna noted that there is “always an endless parade of dancing and [performing arts] teachers coming and going in our house,” so it only made sense to give her children a bigger platform to shine on the Celebration Tour.

A show highlight for the Grammy winner is when daughter Mercy accompanies her on piano during a powerful rendition of her 1993 ballad “Bad Girl.”

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“I saw a strange, poetic juxtaposition of hedonism and exploration emerging into the light of Mercy, sitting stoically at her grand piano playing Chopin as she beckoned me towards her, making me think about the choices I have made in my life,” Madonna said, explaining how that specific moment came to be.

“Singing ‘Bad Girl’ was kind of my confession to her, and I felt we had an unspoken understanding of what was happening.”

Meanwhile, David duets with his mom on “Mother and Father” from her 2003 album, “American Life.” 

“‘Mother and Father’ is one of my favorite moments in the show because it gave me a chance to not only honor my mother and her memory but also to honor David’s mother and her memory,” she said of the young creative, whom she adopted from Malawi in 2006. 

“He has always wanted to sing and play guitar. He loves being on stage — this is nothing new. Much of the show is about motherhood, family, and the importance of that in my artistic life.”

As for Stella and Estere, the girls dance their hearts out when Madonna sings her 2000 smash “Don’t Tell Me,” and also during a section in the show that pays homage to ballroom and the art of vogueing. 

“While Estere was learning how to DJ, she became interested in ballroom competitions. Just by luck, one of my choreographer’s assistants, Ivy Mugler, has her own ballroom house called House of Mugler,” she says of how the two became interested in that sect of dance. 

“She started taking Estere aside during rehearsals to another room—and within a couple of weeks she was doing death drops and spins and surprising us with her ability. So, of course we had to turn that section of the show into Estere’s Ball.”

Madonna is also mom to Lourdes “Lola” Leon, 27 — whom she shares with ex Carlos Leon — and Rocco Ritchie, 23 — whom she shares with ex-husband Guy Ritchie. Her eldest have also participated in her tours, including 2012’s MDNA Tour, for which Lourdes worked in the wardrobe department while Rocco performed on stage. 

“I have always been blessed with children who are interested in music, dance and art. Starting from the top with Lola, who was not only an incredible ballet dancer and a rhythmic gymnast, she also switches to musical theater and contemporary dance,” she said. 

The eternal hitmaker acknowledged that “nothing brings [her] more happiness” than collaborating with her kids. 

“It would be boring if they were just traveling from hotel to hotel, and occasionally coming to watch the show,” she elaborated. “Of course, I am their mother so sometimes we get on each other’s nerves. We are a family of artists but we are also a family, and that’s what happens.”

The Celebration Tour’s next stop is Friday in Mexico City, followed by a final — and free — show in Rio de Janeiro on May 4. 

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