CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA — Winston Fani, a man who has lived with glaucoma since birth and lost his sight completely at the age of 13, is proving that vision is not a requirement for appreciating the beauty of the world. As Africa’s first qualified blind tour guide, Fani is transforming the tourism landscape by leading immersive walking tours through Salt River’s vibrant street-art murals in Cape Town.
Fani’s journey into the tourism industry was born out of necessity and resilience. After losing his call centre job during the COVID-19 pandemic, the father of two was determined to provide for his family. Following a suggestion from a friend in the industry, Fani pursued a professional tourism qualification with the support of a crowdfunding campaign and Cape Town Tourism.
“Eyes do not see; it’s the brain that does the interpretation,” Fani explains. “I had to research every mural and have someone explain the details, effectively repainting each artwork in my brain.”
Fani’s tours offer a multisensory experience. He has pioneered the use of technology and tactile aids to make the street art accessible to everyone. By installing Braille touch points and recording audio descriptions linked to QR codes, he ensures that other visually impaired visitors can “see” the murals through his words and their own touch.
The tour includes tributes to great South African personalities, such as Imam Haroon, as well as recent paintings by local artists. This is where Fani’s perfect knowledge of the city comes into play: he knows every corner of Cape Town, and his white cane is always in his hand, helping him navigate.
“All I would love is for people to come and see Mother Nature’s beauty from a blind person’s point of view,” comments Fani.
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