By Donovan Fourie
The Mzanzi Harley-Davidson dealership in Fourways was the start of a very unique motorcycle event. Actually, this is one of the start venues of many all over South Africa, all over Africa and more so all over the world of a unique motorcycle event. This is the Africa Ubuntu Bikers Breakfast Run. The ninth Ubuntu Bikers Breakfast Run.
It’s been running since 2016 and was begun by a group of bikers who were trying to create more unity among the various demographics of bikerhood. There was much discussion about how best to do this, including discussing the possibility of more discussion, when eventually it was decided that instead of talking they should simply just ride. And so the first Africa Ubuntu Bikers Breakfast Run happened with bikers from every background getting together and going for a ride.
Like all events, it started small with a few bikes but has grown over the years. Not only has the Joburg event grown, but it has sprouted more events with Africa Ubuntu Bikers Breakfast Runs happening on the last Sunday in January in every province in South Africa. That’s impressive but it gets better, because not only has it grown in South Africa but all over Africa with eleven African countries taking part right from South Africa to Egypt. And it gets yet better because, for the past two years, Portugal in Europe has hosted an Africa Ubuntu Bikers Breakfast Run too. And it will get even better because there are talks about places in the USA also soon hosting Ubuntu Bikers Breakfast Runs.
The word “ubuntu” is present in various African languages and is roughly translated as “humanity”, although it is considered more of a philosophy regarding the interconnectedness of individuals in humanity, so is a jolly apt word to describe this event where bikers from all walks of life get together and celebrate a love of biking.
The 2025 Joburg event attracted somewhere close to 2000 bikes that were gathered across four different parking lots around Mzanzi Harley-Davidson. In the morning everyone gathered, greeted and had a jolly good time. There were various groups and clubs from all over taking part, including the M109R Boulevard Riders who pitched up in a stunning display of different Suzuki Boulevards.
Also present – taking up an entire parking lot on their own – were the Crusaders Motorcycle Club who gathered in their hundreds. The Crusaders have been avid supporters of the Africa Ubuntu Run for years and were present not just here at the Gauteng Run but all Africa Ubuntu Runs throughout the county.
It wasn’t just local support but there were riders from Angola, Uganda and all over who had come over to attend this run. Likewise, South Africans also headed over to various countries to take part in their runs. This is truly a gathering of different cultures, and it’s all put together by a committee who have no financial gain from the event. It’s all strictly volunteer-based.
Eventually, though, it was time for the ride to set off, with police motorcycles aptly on standby to keep traffic at bay. The start venue changes every year with a different hosting bike shop serving as the set-off venue. This is to spread the love, so to speak. The end venue is also different every year going to different places of culture including, once, the Voortrekker monument. Each year is a different experience. This year headed to an end venue in Westonaria with a McDonald’s Restaurant having to make a couple of thousand burgers to feed the crowds.
With the mass of bikes eventually reduced to a trickle, this marked the end of the start venue of the Africa Ubuntu Bikers Breakfast Run 2025. For more information on this event, and future information on the next Africa Ubuntu Bikers Breakfast Run happening January 2026, search the
