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2014 Jan.5: Ishaya ngolunye unyawo I-VMCI kulonyaka

by Londeka Dlamini

Ibandla lase Thekwini i-Victory Ministries International phansi kobuholi bukaMfundisi uZungu liza nezinguquko eziningi kulonyaka.
Abazalwane babukeke bethokozile ukubuya enkonzweni kwazise bekuyiSonto lokuqala kulonyaka., iqale kamnandi lapho uMvangeli uMkhize ekhuthaza ibandla ngokuthi asikhohlwe ngokwenzekile ngonyaka odlule.
Siqale kabusha kulonyaka futhi  singabanqobi, evule incwadi yabahluleli  (Judges 16:26) lapho kukhulunywa ngo Samsoni owakhishwa amehlo.

Kulindeleke ukuba kubekhona inkonzo yomgcobo mhla zingu-1 ngenyanga ezayo lapho kuyobe kugcotshwa ngokusemthethweni abefundisi ababili ebandleni uMnumzane Sbisi kanye no Mnumzane Magwaza.
Kanti-ke ibandla lonke lizwakalise enkulu intokozo ngoba sekuzoba khona abanye abefundisi besho nokuthi lokhu kukhomba ukukhula kwebandla eluwuhlobo olufana naleli  uma kwanda abefundisi njengakwamanye amabandla.
Khona manjalo uMnumzane Ndlela ofunda izimemezelo zebandla umemezele  ukuthi sebezoba nenkonzo yetende nabo beyi VMCI, itende lizomiswa endaweni yase Chesterville lizoqala ngo Lwesine kuze kube uMgqibelo kuzomenyezelwa maduze ukuthi lizoqala nini.

Impela lelibandla liwuqale kahle unyaka lokhu kuza emva kokuba ubaba uMfundisi nowakwakhe kanye no baba uMagwaza nowakwakhe besiphe ukudla kwendlebe, basiphe amanoni abamabili kodwa abantu babusiseke kakhulu ukubuka abaholi babo bebaculela.
Sibe sesiya ezwini leNkosi siliphiwa inceku uSbisi okulindeleke igcotshwe ibe ngu mfundisi, evule encwadini ka-Eksodusi 10 vrs. 8-9 lapho kukhulunywa ngo Mose no Aroni kanti-ke ingqikithi yakhe ithi sonke simelwe ukuhamba noNkulunkulu kulonyaka simkhonze kuze kube sekupheleni.

Nginifisela unyaka omuhle ogcwele izibusiso nonke balandeli be Nkanyiso!!!

Previous by Londeka

2013 Dec. 22: ”Indlela enilingwa ngayo ukuba nibizwe ngezitabane”

 


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2014 Jan. 29: South Africa’s New Mo(u)rning

  

by Bridget Ngcobo

What does it mean to be living in post apartheid South Africa?
Does it mean, as the name of the generation alludes that we are (re)born free?
Are our eyes open to the colors and sounds of this new dawn?
­­What does our mo(u)rning look like?

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Mo(u)rning photos by Zanele Muholi (2014/01/10)

Mo(u)rning photos by Zanele Muholi (2014/01/10)

Knocking on the door of twenty years of democracy we are all gathered today in the name of art and activism. I implore you as you go through this exhibition to not forget why or how you got here.

If we were in Uganda, those of us who are homosexuals would be considered abnormal and in the words of Ugandan president the question would be, “do we kill him/her?
Do we imprison him/her?
Or we do contain him/her?”[i]
Us occupying this space, in this way, baring witness and sharing testament, to violent homophobia might be seen as coercing children towards a homosexual lifestyle. As such, if we were in Nigeria we would be subject to life imprisonment.

Instead we are in South Africa at the dawn of celebrating a constitution that includes every person regardless of sexual orientation, so here we stand in this gallery, in this part of the city knowing that a barrage of policemen cannot knock down the doors and arrest us all but do not be illusioned – we are not all safe and we are not all free.

Today, Duduzile Zozo’s family convened in a courtroom facing the neighbor who murdered and left her half naked body few meters away from her house.  Duduzile was 26 years old.  She saw the scenes of Mandela’s freedom, our transition to democracy, she heard as the world applauded for the progressive laws of her country including her inalienable right live freely in this country as Black lesbian women.
Yet in June of last year her neighbor decided her sexual orientation meant she should be raped and killed.
Her murderer left her mother asking, “What is it that my daughter did to you, because I don’t understand why an outsider can be affected by her being a lesbian. Was she not good enough to walk in the streets?” [ii]
There is no doubt in my mind that LGBTQ organizations and friends and family united with placards outside the courts for these are now sites of activism. Where South Africans question the state of country and fate of the very generation that we say is born is free.

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2014 Jan. 15 Art-iculations_invite-1

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Some Faces & Phases portraits exhibited

Some Faces & Phases portraits exhibited

What you see on these walls of Zanele Muholi’s Mo(u)rning exhibition is an activist holding up a mirror reflecting the lived meaning of ‘freedom’ for Black queer South Africans living on the margins.
She brings to the center the aesthetic of the cracks of this 20-year-old democracy that purports to keep swallowing it’s children whole for loving how they whom they want to love and defying gender conformity.

Do not be mistaken however, this exhibit in as much as it commemorates the senseless loss and violent victimization of Black queer South Africans and trans community celebrates the beauty of Black queer aesthetic and the sheer will to live each day from it’s morning to evenings regardless of threat. Muholi paints a vivid image through every story of every piece of South Africans banging at the door of democracy and shouting we are who are and we will be who we will be.

Through her sharp focus on the lives and stories of the art she produces forces us to question the perimeters of space and who occupies it.  She brings to the forefront queer South Africans on the margins, reverberating Black voices on white museum walls. This disruption of our notions of space asserts that the lives of Black lesbians cannot be relegated to violence, courts, placards and academia.
Instead Muholi asserts the complexity and visibility of Black queer lives while simultaneously not obscuring the reality of pain and loss. This exhibit thoroughly disrupts our sense of space merging the politics of geography and the politics of existence.

Muholi lives her activism. She knows the names and narratives of  individuals featuring in her photography.
She attended some of the funerals you will consume.
She pressed record on the testimonies of survivors that you will hear. She went to the reconstructed scenes of hate crimes and as a Black lesbian woman captured the scenes where woman just like her were tortured and killed. She has said each prayer on the rosaries that hang on the walls, she has been to the courts and seen how hate crimes are devolving into games being played in the courts of this land. She has prayed for the healing of homophobic priests who believe queer South Africans are the ones in need of prayer.

Zanele Muholi is firmly straddling the cracks that threaten to swallow the children of this country whole calling for you to open their eyes to the mo(u)rning, calling to you to imagine a South Africa where freedom does not only exist in theory but in practice.

Who of you can be here today?
How did we get here?
Are we in danger of being killed when get home because of how we are dressed or because of who we kiss good night?
If this answer is no, then remember that you are here for yourself as much as you are here for those who, for the women in the photographs, for the spaces between them representing those who are no longer with us, for their future of those who will be born free in South Africa and also for yours.
Your liberation who ever you may be is tied to the liberation of the queer South Africans you will see today.
In the words of the words of Arudhathi Roy, “once you see it, you can’t unsee it. And once you’ve seen it, keeping quiet, saying nothing, becomes as political an act as speaking out. There’s no innocence. Either way, you’re accountable.”

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2014 Jan. 29: Photos from exhibition opening at Wits Art Museum (WAM)

Portfolio #1/2014

A photo album by Nqobile Zungu

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2014 Jan. 29:   Photos from exhibition opening at  Wits Art Museum (WAM)

L-R: Meme Motaung, Shaz Mthunzi and Refiloe Pitso, all the three participants featuring in the Queer Born Frees series (2014)

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Audience 2_1459

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Pregs Govender_1436

Pregs Govender who opened with keynote speech…

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Ntokozo & Kgomotso_1479

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Gabrielle le Roux 1_1440

Gabrielle Le Roux, artist showing the trans series…

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Audience 3_1483

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Melissa Steyn_1433

Melissa Steyn speaking on behalf of WAM…

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CC & Le_1572

Charmain Carrol & Le Sishi whose photos graced the walls of WAM

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Bongi_1442

Thekwane Mpisholo featuring in both Le Roux and Muholi s work.

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Audience 2_1482

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Muholi 1_1467

Muholi is the mo(ve)ment… not alone but with the black LGBTI at large

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Audience 4_1486

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Kgomotso_1513

Kgomotso Mashapa playing own character as you can see in the photo

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Audience 5_1488

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Sebe & Tiisetso_1406

L-R: Sebenzile Nkosi also in Faces & Phases with a friend Tiisetso

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Meme_1510

Handsome Meme Motaung posing next to own photo.

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Kgomotso & Xolani_1473

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sweat_1527


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Audience 6_1492

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Audience 7_1495

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Audience1_1413

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Tembisa LGt crew_1540

Amongst the groups who came to celebrate with us was the Tembisa crew organized by Busi M. on the far right…

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Fifi_1573

Her name is Fifi and she is beautiful…

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Joyce & friend_1410

on the right is Joyce Machepha with a friend…


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Jo & Thola_1561

Thola Sithole & girlfriend Jo… posing beauty at the exhibition…

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Julia_1417

Julia Charlton speaking at the opening…

A BIG THANK YOU!

Wednesday the 29th of January 2014 history was made at Wits Arts Museum (WAM) when the  queer & trans Art-iculations collaborative art for social change exhibition opened.
What a great way to reconnect, for people re-claiming their space, sharing ideas, their fears and celebrating life.

Without all the ‘participants’ as Muholi put it refusing to call individuals photographed “subjects”, let us be honest the exhibition would have been impassable.
Wits Arts Museum, Centre of Diversity, Stevenson gallery, installers, curators, organisors  and each and every person who took great efforts to ensure that the show was a success, we’d like to express our gratitude.
Please forgive me if your name was omitted somehow, note that it is not intentional.

We thank the activists/ artists: Zanele Muholi and Gabrielle Le Roux for producing the well articulated trans and queerly great work!
People would not have been able to come together in one space for a common cause as they did but some wanted to see, to learn, to converse, to re/connect and get a grip of visual – art activism.

We thank all the attendees that came in large numbers from various Gauteng townships:  Daveyton, Ratanda, Alexandra, KwaThema, Thokoza, Vooslorus, Vutha LGBTI, Katlehong, Soweto, Tembisa and not forgetting individuals who came from Joburg suburbs, city and surrounding areas.
The space would have note been packed had it not been for you.
We thank the taxi drivers and everyone who co-ordinated logistics around transportation.
Thank You!

We say a special thank you to people who travelled from Botswana, Germany,  and all over South Africa to attend the exhibition opening.
You made history!!!
We thank the Inkanyiso crew for amazing work – may you shine all the time!

Thank you to Big Fish for recommending one of their students, Itumeleng to document as well as the African Leadership Academy for support.

We thank Lizzy Muholi for all the work well done! Bongani for the setting up and tearing down, Lerato Bereng and Stevenson Gallery for smooth coordination, Leigh Blanckenberg for being there all the time even when exhausted,  guiding us all the way.

Most importantly we would like to thank everyone who was featured on the pictures.
Without you, galleries would be empty.

To share your thoughts about the exhibition  and more please e-mail:  inkanyiso2009@gmail.com and yayamvundla@gmail.com

Follow us on twitter @Inkanyiso_Org or @MuholiZanele or myself @YayaRSA

 

 

 


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2014 Jan.30: Paraplegic’s bed

by Thuthula Sodumo

There are a few things in life that are comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time and a paraplegic’s bed is one of them.
It is comfortable because it is made with care with a “sickly” person in mind and God knows they need the comfort.
It is uncomfortable because it is the most unpredictable bed you’ll ever share with anyone.

Chances are honey you’d wake up with your eyes unable to open because of the stench of the urine of a fully grown ass woman.
Your mouth dehydrated and your nasals burning – yes urine does that, it is acidic remember?

Chances are you’d fall out of love that moment or you’d fall deeper in love because well what’s more embarrassing than waking up and your right side is soaking wet.
You have no fucking idea what happens.
The trauma and the shock, you feel it and you think…”heck no I didn’t pee it’s not me, then who?”
You check your partner and then voila you find the source of your misery or your comic relief.

Because really there are three ways to look at it and that is through laughter, anger or minimizing the situation by letting your paraplegic lover sleep and then deal with it later.  Of course this isn’t for everyone.  This isn’t for that woman who buys expensive silk for bed. This isn’t for that woman who’s never experienced that spontaneity of life, nor for the planner or the materialistic one.
This is for the gypsy hearted – ones whose sole purpose in life is seeking adventure in life.

You are busy fucking and as you are busy finger fucking and eating your paraplegic lover’s pussy, a gush of something watery comes out.
Ooohhhhhh yessss I’m good!”  you think and she says with anguish in her eyes, “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to. You wonder,” woman what you talking about I just made you cum” and she says…
“no I..I think its pee, I just peed”.

You think “not in hell I just made you squirt I’m good at this, baby I just made you cum in floods
Two things can happen here, you can stand up and freak out with you ego bruised and disgusted and again fall out of love or you can spend the entire time debating and licking and trying to distinguish the taste if its cum or urine either way it won’t matter cause you made something come out of her pussy and love her silly.

You could be in bed playing and you playfully get on top of her tickling the devil out of her and she screams for her catheter because by sitting on her and making her laugh that much for some reason made her want to pee.  She inserts the catheter maybe a little too late and wets herself then what?
Is the fun over or fuck this where were we babe?

See the aim or goal of this all is letting you know dating a paraplegic isn’t anything you can ever be ready for.  There is no school that will ever prepare you just like there’s no school to teach one how to love.
It is like a battle field of fun and frustration, all in one.
There are few things that would ever demoralize a paraplegic woman and one of them is acting like being with her is a duty, a job and some obligation.  Treating her as if she went and bought the disability is an insult. Whatever you do, prepare for adventure and some indecisiveness and maybe some of the most frustrating times but in all that be with her because it is where you want to be not out of pity or some twisted reality.  Enjoy her.

Bon appetite and be kind.  Always.

© 2013 Dec. 21

 

 

 

Previous by Sodumo

 

2013 Nov. 12: God, the lesbian, the sin

 

and


2013 Sept. 11: The touch

and

 

 2013 June 11: Double Trouble

 

and

 

2013 April 3: Reflecting on InterSexions

 

and

 

2013 April 4: Gender blind

 

 


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2014 Jan.20: “Walking Corpse”

Marred & dictated to,
by none that created I.
Jailed into faculties that were insisted upon,
way before my existence.
Pathways of Myself,
pre-determined by structures
that had lesser understandings
of the complexities of human.

Born and raised into the basic savagery of pro-creation based sexuality,
eliminating all of the emotional & spiritual intelligence of companionship.
“The man and the wom(b)man must carry on the lineage of humanity”
A questionable sentiment when overpopulation is said to exist,
symbiotically paired with the highest rates of selfishness and greed existent to this day.
Power they say…
What is all powerful about oppression?
I don’t see the oppressor being raped & beaten to death
for compromising humanity.

The notion is that all shall feed into a social classing;
texted into us through race, gender, academics, power & economic politics.
We tread on to further understand the makings of human
& find eurekas of innerstanding to allow us the freedom of being.
Yet we refuse the responsibility of applying this in overstanding to another soul.
As self-defined as we are.
A blatant contradiction,
to which we can do away with not finding alignment for,
because culture says
‘that’s the just the way it is’

We urge our evolution to an understanding that
even though we are still trying to even out the playing fields,
raced does not define who we are,
money does not define the wealth of our lives,
politics does not determine the laws of our existence
& neither does gender determine our sexuality.
Not looking to destroy the cultural aspects that pulverize us daily,
is in fact encouraging the art of questioning  the ‘lesser evils’.
When the query should actually be how it is that…
a human being’s decision that affects no aspects of another’s life negatively
can gain so much intolerance;
yet the one that dictates to another’s life & deprives them of their rights to life,
is so highly feared to the point of proven loyalty to evil.

My rapist, chauvinist, womanizing brother,
is still considered to be my brother
– this actually defining his manhood.
My prostituting, forced to lay on her back to feed a child – sister,
due to the unjustified failure of a government to educate her
& the baby daddy who walked out last night…
is said to be a disgrace to womanity
even though her motherhood is picture perfect.

The failure to nurture a collective consciousness,
that is aware of the limping psyche of its existent sectors,
is the reason why we have to ask…
Sister, where is your voice?
Certainly not in the fists of his patriarchal association to you.
Certainly not in the dick of his lacking sexual discipline.
Brothers, where are your voices?
Your consciousness says Sankara’s stand
is that the woman is the heart of the nation…

GIVE HER A CHANCE!
At present, his heart bleeds at his teachings abolished,
his nation drowning in a mental and social poverty;
& as we stand Africa…
The words of Interrupt magazine say that
‘a body of a black ,queer  woman is considered as a walking corpse’

Steve Biko wrote what he liked,
it is time we evolved
to do what we like.

Christie FossilSoul
© 2013

 

 

Previous by Christie

2013 April 11: Your kiss. Our touch. My Muse.

and

2013 April 10: Another black lesbian activist has fallen


and


2012 Nov. 20: Mourning on commission


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2014 Feb.2 Bayanda abefundisi eVMCI

  

Umbhalo nezithombe

by Londeka Dlamini

 

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Ibiseqophelweni eliphezulu inkonzo yokugcotshwa kwabefundisi bebandla iVictory Ministries Church International (VMCI) eThekwini ebibanjelwe ehholo lomphakathi eWiggins endaweni yase Mayville, ngoMgqibelo zingumhlaka 1 February 2014.

UBonisile Magwaza kanye no Skhumbuzo Sbisi sebegcotshwe ngokusemthethweni ukuba ngabefundisi, kwazise ibilindelwe ngabovu lenkonzo ebandleni laseVMCI. Ububona nendlela obekuhlelwe kahle ngayo. Ngenyanga edlule umama umfundisi uZungu ekhuluma nebandla, wanxusa abazalwane ukuba baxhase kubanjiswane ukuze into yebandla ibe yinhle esho nokuthi kukhomba ukukhula kabandla uma kwanda abefundisi.
”Kugcotshwa umyeni wami lalingakandi kangaka ibandla ngakho ngifisa lenkonzo ibe sezingeni ukuze nezwe libone ukuthi nebandla eliwuloluhlobo liyakwazi ukwenza into enhle” kubeka umama umfundisi.

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Ibihanjelwe abefundisi abaningi lenkonzo phakathi kwabo kukhona nomfundisi uNokuthula Dhladhla wasesifundazweni sase Free State naye oshade nowobulili obufana nobakhe. Kubekhona isikhathi lapho omunye wabefundisi ecele khona ukubeka umfundisi uZungu nomndeni wakhe izandla ngenjongo yokumqinisa emsebenzini awenzayo wokusebenzela uNkulunkulu.

Izolo kuyiSonto siphinde sahambela lona lelibandla iVMCI inkonzo ibemnandi kakhulu. Kusabungazwa ukugcotshwa kwabefundisi, ikomidi eliphezulu ebandleni lidlulisa ukubonga kubazalwane ngokusebenzisana kahle inkonzo yomgcobo yaba impumelelo.
Inkonzo ibiphethwe umfundisi uDhladhla obekade ekhona nasenkonzweni yomgcobo.
Eqala intshumayelo yakhe usilandise kafushane ngaye ukuthi akayena ubaba umfundisi kodwa uyakuthokozela ukubizwa ngomfundisi uDhladhla nje noma uNokuthula, wasukumisa nesthandwa sakhe athe usithanda kakhulu, enxusa nabazalwane bonke ukuba uma uphila impilo yobutabane kubalulekile ukuba uzazi.
Kanti-ke uma ungathanda nawe ukuhlanganyela ne VMCI ungabavakashela eThekwini eDiakonia Centre.

Hhiya-ke, kuze kubengokuzayo!!!
WOZ’ E-DURBAN!!

 

 

 

Previous by Londeka and related articles

2014 Jan.5: Ishaya ngolunye unyawo I-VMCI kulonyaka

and

2013 Dec. 22: ”Indlela enilingwa ngayo ukuba nibizwe ngezitabane”

and


2013 Dec. 16: “Sibonga uMadiba ngokulwela inkululeko yethu”

and

2013 Sept. 19: Ikhiphe Icwecwe layo lokuqala i Victory Ministries (VMCI)

and

2013 September 1: Bafake umfaniswano omama nobab’ umfundisi

and

2013 June 18: New Brand For House Music Lovers

and

2013 June 16: Zishade libalele izitabane

and

2013 June 15: The Durban Lesbian Wedding of the Year

 

 

 


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2013 Feb. 1: Maybe it was not meant to be!

by Charmain Carrol

I am back from Europe and am reflecting on all the things I did, people I met, and what a wonderful and productive time I had.  But I cannot stop thinking about how this trip almost never was. I nearly gave up on the trip because the visa application was a nightmare.   I did not anticipate the problems I encountered when I initiated the application process.  After all, I had observed some of my friends process their applications in Pretoria.  It always seemed quick and easy.

Well my journey was not quite as cut and dry.  Here goes…

2013
June 29

I gathered all supporting documents needed to apply for my visa to Barcelona, Spain.
I was granted an appointment on Monday, July 1st.  In my head, I thought that was ample time to apply for a visa to travel on the 10th of the same month.

July 1

Nqobile and I travelled to Pretoria and we were quite eager and excited for our appointment.  We arrived early with our pictures on hand.  We went on to meet with a consultant, who went through the supporting documents that we had brought and set them against his checklist.  When he was done he advised us that we had missing documents that needed to reach him no later than Wednesday if we planned to leave on the 10th, as a visa took 5 days to process.

The outstanding documents were a letter of invitation from the person who would be hosting us in Spain and France, along with their passport copy and a copy of an electricity bill.  We had to show that we had means to travel from Spain to France by showing proof of train tickets from Spain to France.
We each had to have R7000 in each of our accounts, even if we were unemployed.

Reality set in fast and our hearts sank.  We were fazed but not out.  We contacted the organization that had extended the invitation to us and relayed the feedback from the visa office.  They promised to email the required information by midday.  In our stance to be proactive, we arose early to catch taxis to Pretoria, as we live two hours away.  We waited for the emails to arrive so that the application process could begin but nothing came through.  The embassy closed at 2.30 and we had no choice but to turn back.

When we got back home, our hosts had emailed copies of their passports and electricity bills.

July 2

This was our last day to hand in all outstanding documents but we simply did not have them all.  We travelled to meet with the consultant again and explained the status of our document gathering process.  We also explained that we would be travelling to France by private transport; therefore there was no train ticket to present.  He said that it would be his supervisor’s call but he will forward it.   He also advised us to get the required money, print bank statements and come back and see him the next day.
We felt dejected because we had no clue where we would get R14 000- from since both of us were volunteering for Inkanyiso with no salaries.  Let alone to state the collective we volunteer for does not get any funding from any LGBTI funding donors.

Nqobile and I went our separate ways and went home where everyone was discussing the senseless and gruesome murder of Duduzile Zozo.
Later I went to bed.

July 4

In the morning I was running some type of fever and I could not even get up from my mattress.
I was cold and yet my body was so hot. I had a meeting to go to but I could not make it.  I instead had the meeting at home, dosing in and out of slumber.  I had taken some cold medicine and it might have continued to my being woozy.  My flat mates were getting ready to attend Duduzile Zozo’s night vigil. Try as I might, I just could not get my body to cooperate, so I had to stay behind.  I slept and after I woke up, I checked my email and the invitation letter that we had been waiting on arrived and it said all the right things, and more!!!
They stated that they had sent us the required money and that we should go back to the visa office again.

July 5

As sick as I was, we journeyed back to Pretoria.  We met with the consultant who gathered our documents and passed us on to another consultant for processing.  She went on to inform us that since our documents were all in Spanish, we would have to get our documents translated as well as apply for a French visa because we would be spending more days in France than in Spain.

At this point I was beyond all manner of being restrained and I announced to the lady that I would not be leaving the embassy without the visa, since I had been coming to the same place at the beginning of the week.  She made us wait for the consultant who initially helped us.  Towards 3:00pm he came through and took all our documents again and said we should wait while he pleaded our case with his counterparts.

At 3.45 he came back with a sliver of hope and told us to pray that everything worked out.  In the interim, he advised us to pay our processing fees.  We were advised that we would know the verdict by July 9.  Sometime in between, I received a call from a Jacqueline from the embassy asking me to send her a letter from Inkanyiso stating that the organization had appointed us as representatives to go to Spain.  As the stars would have it, Zanele Muholi arrived on that same day and she wrote and emailed the letters.  We did not hear anything on the 9th July. Maybe it was not meant to be!

July 10

I was on my way home to Heidelberg when I got a call to come and collect the visas before 2:00pm!
That was 10:00am.  I rushed home, packed for the trip, called Nqobile to meet me at the Embassy and then rushed to the visa office to pick up our visas.

I really thought we were not going to leave that day but we did.  We passed through the flat but there was no one at home.  We wanted to say goodbye – for now – to our friends.
We left for Spain…

To be continued…

Previous by CC.

2014 Jan.29: WAM Photos

and

2013 Dec. 25: Christmas that was

and

2013 Dec. 15: Photos from the funeral of the recently murdered lesbian in Ratanda


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2014 Feb. 5: Love Conquers All

by Amogelang Senokwane

Growing up, we were always told that charity begins at home.  What you were taught at home is what we exhibit to the outside world.  The church is of God and it is supposed to teach the highest tenet which is love.
The church is our family just like our blood family and we learn how to live through it.
How then is it that the church is preaching a message of fear?

Pastors and fellow Christians are supposed to epitomize love by living and preaching love, but what comes out of some of their mouths looks and sounds like hate and condemnation.
It makes one resent the church and end up fearful of God.  Grim language that tells us we will burn in hell for being homosexuals has created this image of God being a monster.
Instead of us embracing the Word and moving towards God’s counsel, we are terrified and running away.

In Uganda, Nigeria and other African countries and beyond that have deemed homosexuality to be unnatural and thus illegal, our brothers and sisters are being persecuted; jailed, stoned, burned and even put to death.  Systemic laws have been put in place for these government mandated murders to happen because ‘it is the law’.

As if that was not enough, some families rejoice in these outcomes.
It behooves one to think that a mother, father, sister, brother or friend can watch their loved one go through an unthinkable and painful process just for being themselves?
How do they sleep at night when they speak with forked tongues?

We are taught that God is love and that we should all aim to be that kind of love.  We however experience so much hate.
The late President Nelson Mandela so eloquently stated “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, then they can be taught to love, for love comes naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

 

Previous by Amo

2013 Aug. 22: Am exactly where I’m supposed to be

 

 

 


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2014 Feb.7: How we remembered Mandela

 

A short documentary captured during our Amsterdam visit in Dec. 2013.

In song, dance and poetry, the great man’s spirit was kept alive even though he was no longer there.

Thanks to ZAM for making the function possible,
held at Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam

Camera by Zanele Muholi.
Edited by Malibongwe Swane for Inkanyiso.

 

 

 

 


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2014 Feb.8: Mixed emotions at Miss Valentine 2014 in Daveyton

by Yaya Mavundla

February is known to be a month of love around the globe, but in Daveyton on Friday, 7th February 2014 it wasn’t the case.

Lesiba Mothibe hosted the annual pageant Miss Valentine at Two Tone Lounge in Basothong section Daveyton matching the standard to what any other top-notch pageant would be like.
Six contestants from the area contested for the title.

The pageant was schedule to take place at 19:00 but due to unforeseen circumstances the show started two hours later.  Thankfully there was a cash bar and it kept a lot of people occupied as they quenched their thirst.

When the event eventually kicked off, people got very excited. The MC for the evening was the bubbly Xoli Ntsebesa, who welcomed everyone who was at the pageant. She mentioned and thanked all the sponsors and people who were involved in making the pageant a success.

In the first category, contestants had to introduce themselves to the audience.

Kgomotso “Cuteness” Mashapa, 22 who later on in the evening took the Miss Valentine 2014 title, failed to properly introduce herself, leaving her fans very disappointed.

Thabo Menu, 19 who was the 1st Princess and Miss Personality, was so shy to the extent that she could only say ‘Good evening my name is Thabo also known as Miss T” and the MC requested that she introduce herself again. On her second attempt you could still tell that she was not comfortable.

The 2nd Princess was the bubbly Kats Kgope, 19 impressed the audience with her lingerie presentation and answered her question like any well trained Miss S.A would answer her question.  She however but did not impress with her evening gown as it wasn’t fitting well and kept falling and exposing her breasts.

Despite so much work put in by the organizers, there was a problem with the running of the programme and the music was not what the contestants had rehearsed to. Tensions were high and the MC used unprintable language. She later apologized for being unprofessional.

Ndumiso Nhlengethwa, one of the judges caused further confusion by abandoning his duties and going backstage to give contestants new instructions.  He did not communicate the changes with the organizers and MC and that confused everyone as well as the audience. The judges table and DJ did not understand why they expected one thing but contestants were doing the other. Lesiba Mothibe did not take that too well.

During the intervals Glam Diva who was the audience favourite, performed two songs by Beyonce – Girls, Run The World” and “End of Time” which are very popular within the LGBTI events.

Nathi Dlamini, who did a Lebo Mathosa performance, dedicated it to all the people who did not like drag queens. “This performance I’m about to do is dedicated to everyone who does not like us drag queens but pretends to be our friends” she said.

Sicka Star-ban Jones and Major Short were also amongst other performers for the night.

The audience had their own favourite contestants during the event. When it was time for judges to ask all the finalist questions, most contestants couldn’t answer. One contestant responded by saying “I would like to change my personality and fashion because I do not like it” to the question “If you were to change something about yourself tonight at this pageant what would it be and why?”.

The answer was received with mixed emotions by the audience; some of the people in the audience couldn’t help but laugh.

After the crowning, Kgomotso “Cuteness” Mashapa was so overwhelmed by emotions. She could not verbalise her feelings. It was her first pageant win in all her pageant history. When asked about how she felt about the win and experience she described it as amazing. “I’m so happy, this is amazing, thank you so much” she responded.

Lesiba was happy with the result and the production and during her interview she said “I’m glad that everything went according to plan, yes there will always be things that you are not happy about when hosting such events but today I’m happy and the response is positive so far.
I would like to thank Two Tone Lounge for allowing us to host such an event at their venue. Zanele Muholi for sponsoring the prize. 
Candice Nkosi for doing the girls Make-up and everyone else who was involved”, she concluded.

Right after the pageant the white draping on stage was ripped off and a massive party started and everyone partied like they are at PRIDE.

Previous by Yaya

2014 Feb.11: What to get your partner this Valentine’s Day

 


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2014 Feb.14: “Black South African visual artist lesbian, Zanele Muholi, in a transparent coffin of love and loss”

by Aluta Humbane

Zanele Muholi, the 2013 Prince Claus Laureate, put on what could be best termed a conversation starter of an exhibition during the prestigious Prince Claus Laureate Award ceremony.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr Andre’ Haspels was at hand at the Wits Art Museum to honour Zanele Muholi’s contribution to culture and development. The award ceremony was followed by the opening of Love and Loss exhibition at the Stevenson Gallery in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

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Muholi in a custom made coffin. Photo by Bongi 'Thekwane' Mphisholo (2014/02/14)

Muholi in a custom made coffin.
Photo by Bongi ‘Thekwane’ Mphisholo (2014/02/14)

Attendees had this to say:

“Powerful, Zanele is very brave, when I came in and saw the coffin with flowers – I got goose bumps and thought…what’s happening?”
Fariba Derakshani (Prince Claus Foundation, Amsterdam)

“This is an example that one day it might be us”
Bakae (Vosloorus)

“If it weren’t for her, we would know each other, but the world would only know us through their eyes and voice, I see myself in this exhibition“.

Mpume (Turtfontein)

These pictures touched my soul, they look so in love, it seems I’ m not the only one who desire love.”

Tshepiso

Siyabonga Zanele. You are our black lesbian hero”

The 14th of February 2014, marks many people celebrating Valentine’s Day worldwide often in the comfort of their homes, but Wits Arts Museum and Stevenson Gallery had a different idea. They brought the broody holiday to the art museum.

At 18:30, the museum was buzzing with more than 200 black LGBTI guests, allies and gay patrons from all over Gauteng townships.  The majority of them had never been afforded the opportunity to be in in such a space, prior to this moment.

The award ceremony and exhibition provided an opportunity to claim a space previously reserved by suppressive ideology, an era past of racial segregation in South Africa that would have deemed the invitees invisible and not worthy of such a space.

Now this space allowed us an expression and artistic engagement where we explored and revealed our true being without fear.

The prevailing tone in the air was that which acknowledged Muholi as a messiah, who has united us all; black, white, drag queen, Butch, township dwellers and suburbanites in a space where the societal and cultural etiquette was challenged to fit the context of diverse people in the Museum and Gallery, thus embraced the contrasts of love and loss under one roof.

The accolade of messiah follows Muholi, who has used her passion to create photography and art as a vehicle that advocates for the emancipation and celebration of the black LGBTI community who are previously and presently marginalized in mainstream media.

In documenting and voicing the different queer identities and their multiplicity, Muholi has created a visibility that had been swept under the rug.  This new platform has allowed for a celebration of Queer and Trans beauty and existence.

I entered a gallery that was charged with a rush of positive energy and in my eyes I immediately understood what the late and great Nelson Mandela envisioned. It was a free space where all could “BE”

The Prince Claus award ceremony boasted colours of love, which were celebrated with struggle songs and chants of freedom and power by the fired up crowd. It became a melting pot of culture and norms as all protocol was abandoned.  Songs of freedom were chanted in celebration of a ‘soldier’ who had fought a good fight and was now being rightfully honoured.

In her keynote, Fariba Derakshani the Prince Claus representative resonated with the audience, most of whom were or have been part of the creation of Muholi’s work. Derakshani said that she was “a revolutionary who has had great impact in advocating and empowering black LBGTI communities of South Africa.  Through her lenses, she has shot and offered a voice for black LGBTI stories which will live ahead of time in history.”

As she was acknowledged and given the award, the venue was illuminated by prayer and loud singing, using liberation struggle songs which lyrics had been altered to fit an LGBTI context. One could not help but feel part of the revolution that captured the mixed emotions of love, celebration and mourning for those gone prematurely.

The ceremony ended with some words of appreciation from Muholi.  She spoke of her vision of being in a world where black LGBTI are part of the mainstream cultural and artistic production, where they are able to tell their stories not through someone’s voice, as a third person, but the first. She said her objective was that “of empowering black LGBTI whom are discriminated and silenced by a society which in principal has constitutional obligation to provide a platform to tell their stories, through their own voices, which currently is not the reality.”

It is clear that her selfless efforts are driven by the passion to leave a legacy of sorts, that of an empowered and productive black gay and community.  Her works speaks to the fact that lesbians should be judged only by their actions and not sexuality, gender or race.

When the award ceremony ended at 20:30, the attendees moved to Stevensons Gallery, which was a street away. In numbers lesbians, gays, bisexual and intersex marched in unity, down the streets of Braamfontein in a proud moment of belonging.

Upon entering the gallery, all your senses went into over drive as Zanele Muholi’s live performance art installation, threw everyone for a loop and left them momentarily shocked.

Muholi was inside a custom made glass coffin, which was strewn with rose petals and shreds of flowers on top of it, as she laid there naked, an allusion of death!!
The celebratory mood quickly changed to a sad and a somewhat sombre mood.  There were expressions of awe, sadness, and shock.

Some people were streaming tears at the sight of Muholi’s “corpse”. The feelings of pain, anger, and fear resurfaced as they were forced to confront everyone’s worst fears – those of losing a child, aunt, sister, friend to hate crimes.  Suddenly death was staring us in the face.  The reality of losing a friend or lover, a sister or brother registered fully!

Others were comforting the shaken ones.

We had been confronted with Of Love and Loss – a juxtaposition of love and loss was punctuated Muholi objectifying her body, to quantify her experiences beyond language. Her work has become synonymous with the likes of South African Born Steven Cohen and Italian millitary leader’s daughter, Marina Abramović

The exhibition engages through photography, the love, flamboyancy, identity and changing scope of tolerance towards homosexuals. Through their persistent acts of “Being” regardless of expectation, dangers, ideological and socio-political control.

Muholi’s really pushes the boundaries to compel one to think, reflect and engage with not only the plight, but an elated representation of the beauty of queer black gays and lesbians. In her bid and fight to create a space, and mouthpiece in which the beauty and love that exists in Homosexuals is shared with society and the world, where people can understand that we too live, we too love and we too feel.

Of Love and loss, engaged patrons as it evoked a myriad of emotions all at the same time.  The installation forces one to face the hard truth and in the next instance makes you swoon.  Some of the liberating images were of a gay sangoma couple’s wedding, who believe that their union was accepted by the ancestors.

Soon after there are images of friends and family mourning lesbians and gays killed in a bid to correct and or diminish their existence.

Other images depict love, beauty and metamorphosis of queer and flamboyant and butch identities.

Muholi’s work is a celebration of homosexuality, queer identity, and love against all odds and an encouragement to reflect which can be the beginning of healing.

In a series of compelling narrative images, Of Love and loss exhibition is opened until the 4th of April 2014 at the Stevenson Gallery, Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

 

 

 

About the author
Aluta Melvin Humbane was born and lives in Inanda, Durban.

He achieved a BA Degree in Drama & Performance and Media & Cultural studies from UKZN Howard College (2012), A Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Edgewood Campus (2013); and a LUCCA International Leadership Certificate.

Aluta’s passion for humanitarian work has seen him work in Durban LGBTI NGO advocating for LGBTI human rights and well-being.

He is currently in an Australian based Organization (Spark Changemakers*) network of change makers in South Africa through an organization he founded, called “Injongo Movement” in Inanda. (Focusing on arts for a change)

In past four years has written and directed 2 Dramatic plays which aims to create awareness through shock, the issues of homophobia, woman abuse and negative impacts of a Gesellschaft community.
Which has toured Durban and used in 16 Days of Activism campaigns.

Aluta is also a singer/songwriter and has braced stages around South Africa.
He is also a Playhouse Performer since 2009 till present.
He also volunteers at Inanda Community Radio as an art show producer and guest show host.

He has received two awards, one from UKZN Humanities College for outstanding Mentor (2011); and the Pink Feature Award for Most Influential Gay person in Durban (2010)

Currently working for Department of Education.
He is also working on his first Solo music album “Identity “through his music production co. and directing his Theatre Project, A play called “Mandela could be Jesus” which will open towards end of 2014.


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2014 Feb.15: “ Of Love & Loss” review


by Nomfundo Mgabadeli

 

The Wits Arts Museum and the Stevenson Gallery in Johannesburg played host to one of the most talented, hard-working, passionate visual artist activist of today, Zanele Muholi.
Muholi unveiled her latest offering, titled “Of Love and Loss” on the 14th February along with her 2013 Prince Clause Award ceremony.

The evening commenced at the Wits Arts Museum, with a selection of works by Zanele Muholi being exhibited in her honour. She was the evening’s recipient of the 2013 Prince Claus Award, which is given to eleven highly acclaimed individuals from different countries who show a resilient aptitude towards culture and development in their relevant fields, and not only excelling but shedding light on issues they hold most dear.
In the case of Muholi, she shone the spotlight on the persecution of the black Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community, especially in township areas where attacks are as common as commuting a taxi. Her works ring more true in the current state of LGBT rights crisis across Africa.

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Changing vows.  Ayanda & Nhlanhla Moremi's wedding. Kwanele Park, Katlehong, 9 November 2013

Changing vows.
Ayanda & Nhlanhla Moremi’s wedding. Kwanele Park, Katlehong, 9 November 2013

After the award ceremony patrons gathered and made their way to the Stevenson Gallery, where the official launch “Of Love and Loss” took place. As you entered, the walls were adorned with intimate endearing stills of Muholi and her partner, which immediately set the “love” tone of the exhibition. But as you walked out of that sort of whimsical space, you were taken aback by a glass coffin placed on the floor juxtaposed with a black lesbian wedding playing in the background.
The installation drew even more attention when Muholi herself, stripped down and laid nude in the coffin, surrounded by red rose petals.

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Muholi in a custom made coffin. Photo by Bongi 'Thekwane' Mphisholo (2014/02/14)

Muholi in a custom made coffin.
Photo by Bongi ‘Thekwane’ Mphisholo (2014/02/14)

The third space was again adorned with stills of black same sex marriages which illustrated that same sex weddings can be just as magical and special than a heterosexual wedding. You were then quickly brought back to the pain endured by black LGBTs and it leaves quite a morose feeling within.

Muholi’s body of work reveals a tug of war between “Of Love and Loss” and it depends on an individual’s perspective on what they take from the exhibition. Like her previous works, the pieces bring great awareness to the plight of black LGBT people. She has solidified herself as a catalyst for change in the LGBT community. The exhibition runs up until the 4th April 2014.

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Ayanda Moremi on her wedding day. Kwanele South, Katlehong, 9 November 2013

Ayanda Moremi on her wedding day. Kwanele South, Katlehong, 9 November 2013

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Duduzile Zozo's Funeral. Thokoza, July 2013

Duduzile Zozo’s Funeral. Thokoza, July 2013

About the author

Nomfundo Mgabadeli  is a recent Bachelor’s Degree graduate in Journalism and a prospective student for the Master’s program.
Nomfundo has an aptitude and a great love for writing.
She is a self-confessed liberal feminist and a firm believer in equality across the board. She has no interest in furthering stereotypical, prejudicial, harmful agendas on and off the record.

In her research she has particular interest in youth, as she believes young minds have the potential to be the change that our country so desperately needs.
She currently works at Art for Humanity, a non-profit organisation that uses art to advocate human rights and various social issues that plague South Africa.
The organisation also holds art school workshops in different schools across KwaZulu-Natal for which she is a facilitator.

 

 

 

Related links

2014 Feb. 14:  Black South African visual activist lesbian, Zanele Muholi, in a transparent coffin Of Love and Loss”

and

Zanele Muholi: The task of mourning

and

Desire for change unites post-apartheid activism

and

2014 Feb.14: Prince Claus Award ceremony + Of Love and Loss exhibition opening


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2014 Jan.29: Education is primal

 

by Tapuwa Moore
Edited by Fikile Mazambani

Tsohang tu yerr man!

Personally I do not advocate for my freedom, I only have an urgent need for human rights based society. Maybe being a marginalized person; a lesbian, a black woman and a mother, has taught me to be a survivor.  I have been raped and survived it.  It has taught me that we must all move on and transform. In order for one to have that 360° change, a paradigm shift has to happen to society en masse. Thus, a new ethos of the amicable freedoms we deserve will step forth and present itself.

Close attention has to be paid to the language used at the higher echelons of human rights institutions.
What language is being used?
Language articulates cultural systems and is a window to the psychology of how society thinks and acts. Whether that mindset is of committing violent crimes or that of systemic injustices which keep us at the helm of non-equality, we find that there is institutional language that protects these acts somehow.

I have seen many lesbians passionately picket issues around advocacy for LBGTI rights and they become momentary pop stars. I have protested too and I became despondent with protesting. I remember in my youth after Grade 12, I was in need of education and no one stepped up to help attain it.  The boys on the other hand moved on to higher education. It informed me that it was a privilege to be a man I surmised.  I had to stay at home and look after my siblings and grandfather. The cultural institution that I found myself in did not articulate education for girl children. Thankfully, in this day and age, all that has taken a turn for the better as every child now has a right to education, regardless of gender.

I took it upon myself to get a university education.  I worked hard to make it to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).
I enrolled as an International Relations major but politics and geography did not peak my interest and the following year I switched my major to drama.  Sadly I did not get any support from those nearest and dearest – my family.   My grandfather opposed my leaving for Wits and vowed never to support me.  He died with no knowing of what I had attained. In his view I was breaking culture, whereby a boy is always the heir no matter the ranking.
He said something to the tune of I wanted to be better than my brother.
Truth be told, I was only trying to better my own life and not competing with my brother.  My brother chose a different route and settled for not attending university. He has his career.

I was the first person from our lineage to attend university.  Even though I had already had a child, I was determined to make it all the way.  I had full knowledge of who I wanted to be and I did not like to be boxed.  While away on campus I began playing soccer, something I wasn’t allowed to do at home because of the dangers that came with it.  When I was a teen I wanted to play but the impeding danger of being raped caused me not to play.   I started playing at home, away from campus, as well and they even got soccer cleats for me because I enjoyed it that much.  My mum would even get worried if I was not playing!

In economics you learn that everything works in cycles. Nothing stays the same. Economies change, governments change and we can look at our own history to see just how twenty years ago were not featured in the world and now we are right at the top. Just like anything, trends come and go. South Africa right now is the trendy shiny toy and all the vultures zone in and get their agendas in motion, NGO’s being one of those vultures.
Are you a fad or a trend?
If not, then why allow yourself to be used in this manner? 
What am I talking about and why am I outraged?
I am outraged at all of you who picket and shout the loudest for a free t-shirt or beer.
What do you get in turn?
Do you get some sort of life insurance from these agencies?

You see I was raped. I tell you this not to shock you, but to say take your power back.
Why are you dwelling in a state of victimhood? 
Black lesbians being raped and murdered is a very real crisis, one that should never be minimized but also one that should not be used as political dice. I am saying you are being placed in a subtle box of constant strife.  I commend NGO’s for bringing social injustices to the forefront but I am saying how about empowering the people?

My challenge to you and the concerned NGO’s is to empower the black LGBTI community with real solutions.  Free beers, t-shirts and KFC are fleeting things, dangled in front of you to distract you from the real issues.
After you finish picketing do you feel accomplished?
Are you more educated, your future more secure and your neighbourhood much safer? 
I am all for freebies but I am also for education. Education changes communities.  Education helps end hunger and brings down crime. Education exposes you to endless possibilities.  The greatest outrage right now is to help blacks get out of poverty.

On top of polluting your body with these unhealthy foods, have you wondered why you have never been invited to come and get help writing your Curriculum Vitae (CV) to earn employment, how to start a small business etc?
Would you put on your CV that “I have protested and toyitoye-d for 10years with so and so organisation”? 
That is just time well wasted – for who is up for debate.  When you are done you are still a statistic.

You will still be a victim of a non-equal society you are protesting. What I am saying is learn to see beyond the agenda. You are protesting your right to able to walk hand in hand you’re your partner down the road, but have you protested the lack of education, shelter, food, amenities, health – all which are basic human rights.  Protest for your right to walk around with your girlfriend or partner without prejudice or being subjected to homophobic attacks but also have you basic human rights covered. After the protest what are you going to eat, will you drink brown and tea and bread or you are going to have a healthy filling breakfast?

Remember that most black lesbians emulate cultural systems that are in place that, for example, if you wear expensive apparel it shows how wealthy one is. What flawed thinking this is.
Material things have a shelf life.
Are we investing in education that has no expiry date?
Education is in many different forms, one just has to choose what works best for them – formal or vocational training. Some people work better sitting at a desk and others work better using their hands. One can be an engineer, artisan, nurse, educator, pilot, the sky is the limit.  That is the legacy that we should be investing in, and one that will eventually afford you the creature comforts that you yearn.  All is inauthentic living.

I am sad because we would rather be known as the best partiers and champion sex machines but are too lazy to attain and create a legacy for ourselves.
Who are we without a legacy?
We are extinct. Some say they are too butch to work and others say they are too femme to spend time on a diploma or degree. Some drop out of high school with no prospects for the future. It is never too late.  We need more Sipho Mabuse’s of this world, who go back to high school to finish their Grade 12.

There is already a stereotype out there about us that we are alcoholics and promote debauchery, as per one heterosexual man I once listened to on radio.  He vociferously took a stance and his perception on black lesbians. I wanted to call in and challenge his assumptions around what he deemed a morally sound heteronormative system whereby he assumed that everyone anything besides that norm will not do. I also wanted to defend my fellow compatriots.
Is there truth to stereotypes?

I wanted to ask him if he knew of Simon Nkoli and Phumi Mtetwa, amongst others, who were at the forefront of changing the ANC stance around human rights focusing on LGBTI issues. I wished I could pull up literal works that supported my stance and I just wanted to come out guns blazing and school his ignorant mind. Obviously I could not. I personally work hard and I give back using my talents, to the community at large.  I had a performance where I managed to collect tampons that were distributed to girl children irrespective of their sexuality or sexual preference.  It was just a response to a need.  I say that to say, I am an educated self-respecting, philanthropic citizen of the world. I am none of those ill labels that the hetero world slaps on us collectively.
Some of you sure give them the ammunition.

Freebies are euphoric – albeit momentarily – but let’s be real, they will not contrite towards buying you a house in the suburbs neither will keep you safe from the township monsters who are prowling our streets and taverns who are waiting to pounce then someone becomes a statistic.  After you help an NGO fly their flag high, you get that taxi and face the same homophobic people and institutions that get away with blue murder! They never get caught because they are part of the system that says we are good for nothing except sex and alcohol.

Perpetual ignorance in our society is kept going by the assumptions and stereotypes heaped on homosexual individuals. There are lesbians out there who chose to be vocal social champions but also emancipating themselves from mental slavery.
Dulcy Stapler Rakumakoe was a protester who also stayed in school until she earned her right to practice as a medical doctor.  There are many who have chosen freedom by attaining an education. They are safe in their homes tucked away in the suburbs, they drive themselves around and they feel secure.  That is true freedom.
Do you not want that kind of freedom?
For every freedom there are sacrifices. You can choose to party until the cows come home, or you can study.  We should strive to be better than our parents. We should look at working at better jobs and not a supermarket cashier as a career. I am not trying to look down on those that do these jobs, I respect hard working women. I am just saying, let us have a burning desire to reach the glass ceiling and break it while at it.  Parents are old and out of options on how to feed grown women who come home empty handed besides a few t-shirts.

There is nothing holding a black lesbian from becoming who they want to be in this country. We may live amongst hateful and hurtful people but we are not victims. Come on black lesbians if we can party as hard as heterosexual people, we can study like them too; be part of the economy, and pay tax like normal people. Education is not for the selected few, it is your constitutional right as well as a basic human right.  There are many sources of financial help that you may access including bursary schemes, government student loans (NSFAS) to name some.

FET colleges do not charge any tuition fees, they are FREE. All you need to do is to fill in your application form and if you cannot, you can always ask someone to help you. It is as good as it sounds!!

If you can find time to be on social media all the time then you can make time to fill in the form and secure your future.  You may google and submit their online application or you may do it physically. You need to pay an admin fee when submitting your application and that will be all the money you will spend.  If you can dress in expensive attire, then you can afford admin fees.

Everything comes with time. Time to party will come. When you are educated, you protest with a cause. You learn to read between the lines and place yourself strategically. With time you will be able to align yourself with those same NGOs with whom you share a common cause, only this time you will be paid to do what you believe in. You will be driving to work, living in the suburbs, with a medical aid and afford to vacation.

Vuka emacandeni tsoha itsose no one will wake you up if you don’t.  Change yourself and watch a paradigm shift of your mind happen.

 

 

 

 

About the author

Birth Identity Seipone More

Tapuwa Moore, a performing artist, creative writer, playwright, director and prose performer began her career by performing Heineken in Melrose Arch in 2003. She published a poem called coca cola with Behind the Mask (a defunct LGBTI online magazine) in 2006.
She has been a performing resident at the Wits Writing Center for many years.
Her life with The Writing Center includes many events such as the Jozi Spoken word, the E’skia Mphahlele colloquium, and the Wits Arts Literature Experience (WALE).
Tapuwa has graced the stage with renowned poets Mak Manaka and Natalia “The Shelter” Molebatsi for Media Park tours in Soweto commemorating June 1976 in 2006.

Her performances have always been about resistance, and articulating the struggles of black women and injustices faced by being black as well as lesbian.
Her movement has been encapsulated in human rights advocacy organizations, such as the New Life Center an advocacy organization that worked to rehabilitate sex workers and advocated on issues of HIV prevention in the inner city.
New Life Center provided shelters for abused women, children and sex workers and performed in their events in 2007-2008.
She has further pursued her activism as a performer on stage collaborating with FEW, including the Soweto Pride.

She has coached both men and women’s soccer teams.
However the significant coaching moments were spent as a head coach of the Chosen FEW lesbian soccer team in 2009.
At FEW, she learned of the advocacy rhetoric and human rights violations faced by many black lesbian women.
She later become a member of the 1 in 9 campaign and served in their Steering Committee as a deputy chairperson. However her need to pursue social change performances took precedence when she became part of The Vagina Monologues in 2010.
Her writing focused on changing attitudes against gender based violence, HIV, atrocities faced by black lesbian women and human rights abuses. She has been in solidarity with movements such as Gender Links and POWA, as a performing artist and activist.

She has performed pieces like “lesbian, what would I do with myself if I stopped drinking?” in order to address rape and patriarchal violence, featured in the Jozi Spoken word at Wits Theater in 2009 and the Wits substation in conjunction with the Writing Center. What would I do with myself has become her mantra as she performed it in various spaces, putting the highlight and advocating on rape, sex, sexuality and HIV. Some of her works like Before Funny Things Started were published by The Global Game in commemoration of the World Cup in 2010.

She directed The Vagina Monologues in conjunction with WALE in 2012 where she worked with Ntsiki Mazwai, a renowned poetess.
She is currently producing and directing The Vagina Monologues to be staged in various spaces in the inner city including Soweto.
She has also been featured in the Mail & Guardian book of South African Women 2013 as a playwright, director, performing artist and a rape survivor.


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2014 March 12: Talkabout – Gabrielle Le Roux and Thekwane ‘Bongi’ Mpisholo

2014 March 14: A video of Ayanda and Nhlanhla Moremi’s wedding

 

4 months later … marital bliss.

Ayanda Magoloza got married to Nhlanhla Moremi on the 9th Nov. 2013 in Katlehong.
They exchanged the vows at Kwanele Park in Katlehong.
Their wedding union was blessed by Pastor Tebogo Moema of Dominion Life Ministry Church.
Later that day the wedding proceedings took place in Vosloorus township at Nhlanhla’s home.

The video was captured by Nqobile Zungu, Themba Vilakazi and Zanele Muholi.
Edited by Malibongwe Swane for Inkanyiso Productions (2013)
Translated by Nomfundo Mgabadeli.

 

Ayanda & Nhlanhla Moremi’s wedding transcript

 

Pastor Moema: Corinthians 14:1 says; above all else seek love, love doesn’t seek its own, love seeks the other’s interest more than its own, love forgives, love has got understanding.

JOYOUS SINGING AND PRAISE

Andile: Hi, I’m Andile, …
Ayanda I wish you well in your marriage.

Nonka: I’m Andile’s bride maid and friend, I hope she stays happy and that her marriage walks hand in hand with God so that it will last forever, I’m happy for you girl.

Sister: I’m one of the bride’s maids, I wish my sister joy in her relationship as well as all the obstacles they still need to overcome that they trust in God because ‘Through God’s Grace anything is possible.’

Ayanda’s AuntAyanda we as your family love you, please respect Nhlanhla,
love each other and enjoy your marriage.

Thobeka Mavundla: She’s a beauty, a natural beauty.  All I can tell you is that you have opened up a path for us. We see you and we will hear from you how marriage is before we commit as well.

Ayanda’s Aunt: You have made a decision, not many make this decision, and these days people don’t get married they just live together. Today when they said the ceremony would start at 10am, my tummy started turning and I started thinking about your mother, my sister…if she was here…you have chosen who you want to marry and that has nothing to do with us. You and Nhlanhla must be strong till the end.

Pastor Moema: There is love above all, love remains and love is the greatest. Even if I can doll out everything, give to the poor, sacrifice even my own body, but if I don’t have love, the whole process is diminished to nihilism, it is nothing.

Vows: I take you today, as my wedded spouse, to love, to cherish, to celebrate you, in sickness, in good times, when we are bounding. When we do not have, I will always be by your side. I will hold you, lock you into my heart, as a bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, my mate, my soul mate.
I say to you, I do.

Nhlanhla Moremi: With these rings, it’s a symbol of unification, remember at all times when you look at them, that I, Nhlanhla love you.

Pastor Moema: Father bless this couple, bless them to be one, let that which God has put together, let no man separate declare you today married spouses, we bless you.

Nhlanhla’s Mother: I am very proud, when Nhlanhla turned 15, like any 15 year old boy, Nhlanhla’s voice changed. Nhlanhla‘s movements changed, and became a boy. As I stand here before you, I want to tell you not to be confused because I am not confused. Nhlanhla is mine. Nhlanhla is not a lesbian, Nhlanhla is not lesbian, he is a gentleman. I have two sons and two daughters.

Zanele Muholi: History is to be made, for those who are allergic to photos, it makes no sense. It is nice to be together when people get married and are happy because most times, the community comes together only when a lesbian has been abused or killed.
We end up saying ‘Amandla. Amandla’ knowing very well that we are powerless to the one of us that has been killed.

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Featuring in Zanele Muholi's Faces & Phases. Ayanda Magoloza, Kwanele South, Katlehong, Johannesburg, 2012

Featuring in Zanele Muholi’s Faces & Phases.
Ayanda Magoloza, Kwanele South, Katlehong, Johannesburg, 2012

Related link

Ayanda and Nhlanhla’s wedding photos

and

Lesbian couple seal their bond


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2014 March 8: Photos from Brown Bois Retreat in Oakland, CALIFORNIA

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2014 March 8:   Photos from Brown Bois Retreat in Oakland, CALIFORNIA

Photos by Zanele Muholi
Where: Oakland, CA
With:  Valerie Thomas and Selaelo ‘Sly’ Mannya
What: Brown Bois Retreat
Link to:
Brown Boi Project
Topic: How to increase Personal Communication Skills chaired by Melvin

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2014 March 18: Sharing South African Queer Knowledge with students in America

 

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2014 March 18:  Sharing South African Queer Knowledge with students in America

Photo album by Valerie Thomas

Quote of the day

Is South Africa a country?

 

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Charles G CompLit class _4061

Frieda Ekotto

The University of Michigan

Introduction:

Zanele Muholi Speaks at the Africa Workshop at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

It is my pleasure to introduce to you to Zanele Muholi one of the most celebrated South African Visual Activist of her generation.

A South African artist, Muholi’s visually stunning photographs and films document the beauty and love of black, lesbian South African women. They are part of Muholi’s larger project to create a historical archive that ensures the visibility of the black lesbian community in South Africa, of which she is a part. As she writes, “It is important to mark, map and preserve our mo(ve)ments through visual histories for reference and posterity so that future generations will note that we were here.” In preserving and presenting the histories of black lesbian women, she creates a space for the articulation of their subjectivity, knowledge and experiences.

Muholi addresses political, heteronormative, economic and racial inequalities and injustices by insisting on the beauty and humanity of all members of her community. This allows her to counter rhetoric that demonizes lesbians as well as narratives that represent them simply as victims. Having herself been asked to serve as a research subject for “experts” who wished only to document violence, Muholi decided that rather than allow others to speak for her, and thereby serve as the object of problematic and often fetishizing depictions, she would create her own photographs, films and essays. By producing images that show lesbian women as beautiful and loving, and by stressing their important roles as members of communities, families and the nation, Muholi offers direct intervention into economic, political and social-cultural forces that work to silence their beautiful presence and the many ways that they contribute to society.

Muholi’s photographs are portraits of women who love other women. Sometimes they are couples, smiling and embracing in intimate moments. Sometimes they are single individuals, posing for a portrait. In this way, Muholi’s visual activism is similar to my current book project, Vibrancy of Silence, which explores the lives of Sub-Saharan African lesbian women through attention to silence, desire and love, terms which I have chosen in order to shift conversations about lesbian women in Africa away from violence to their humanity. In this way, both of our projects are part of a larger movement to counter discourses that commodify and pathologize black women’s sexualties.

Muholi’s work is of international importance. It has been exhibited extensively throughout Europe and the United States, as well as in South Africa.

Please join me in welcoming Zanele Muholi to the Africa Workshop.

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Michigan University is almost done where I shared my work on how I explored visual activism.
Thanks to Prof. Frieda Ekotto for the invitation, generosity and hospitality, let alone her permanent commitment to open up spaces to African experts to share their experiences. She is defending queer voices and unapologetically combating any forms of invisibility in academic spaces and beyond.
We need more professors like her who truly believe in human rights.

To my dearest academic friend and African ‘Foucault’ – Charles Gueboguo, I love you and respect your expertise. Listening to your teachings in Invisibility class forced me to rethink of ‘Invisibles’ in South Africa…
My gratitude to Valerie Thomas for documentation bang.

Sisonke!


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2014 March 21: Whose Democratic rule?

by Thozie Mathe

South Africa passed its first democratic Constitution in 1996, ending a 50-year regime of institutionalized discrimination known as apartheid, and 300 years of legal discrimination. The new laws, in contrast, institutionalized the principles of non-discrimination in the Bill of Rights, explicitly prohibiting   discrimination on the grounds of gender and sexual orientation. In addition it created various institutions responsible for safeguarding the principle of non-discrimination and the Bill of Rights, amongst which are the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), both considered in this paper as NHRIs (National Human Rights Institutions).

Despite the legal speak in the Constitution; the message has not trickled down to layman South Africans.  Evidence shows that the high rates of deaths in the LGBTI community are a direct result of hate crimes. Who do we point fingers at and blame?
Who is killing LGBTI people?

I start by pointing my finger at families who refuse to accept their gay children.  They are committing hate crimes. It’s amazing that people love gays and lesbians from afar but cannot handle having them in their own families. The people that affirmed me were the ones that I was not related. On the other hand, my family members have no qualms appreciating and cherishing other gays and lesbians from other families.  Because my own mother and father are openly hostile to my sexual orientation, it allows my neighbors to attack me at will.  This just makes me an easy target because gossip travels fast, and soon everyone will believe I do not deserve to exist because my own parents do not.

Anguita (2010 p.7) states that,

“Despite the protection and legal equality of women and LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans) people, the social reality is quite different. Gender-based violence is a widespread problem in South Africa, which has the highest rate of rape in the world. And LGBT people are frequently attacked, both verbally and physically, because of the widespread intolerance and prejudice against them in the population.”

The Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1990 defines hate crimes as,

‘‘Crimes in which the defendant’s conduct was motivated by hatred, bias, or prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation of another individual or group of individuals’’

That means any form of hate against homosexuals is a hate crime. It’s difficult to wrap around one’s mind how parents can despise their blood because they disapprove of their intimate partner. It is a shame and almost a smite to God.  Such crimes serve to victimize and intimidate not only individuals, but also entire groups of people. The threat of being victimized because of some status characteristic, such as sexual orientation, promotes silence and invisibility amongst members of the target group.

By grounding homosexuality in biology, many gay rights advocates hope to establish and legitimate the naturalness of homosexuality, thereby proving that gays and lesbians deserve the same civil rights afforded to heterosexuals.  Because of the negative connotation that anti-gay forces have imparted on the word ‘choice’, it appears that gay rights proponents have distanced themselves from the word, not wanting to align themselves with anti-gay rhetoric.

Seeking to reject anti-gay assertions that being gay is a choice, gay rights advocates have resorted to an essentialist and biological discourse concerning homosexuality.   The word ‘choice’ has indeed been employed by anti-gay rights advocates in negative and condemning ways. Underneath the anti-gay rhetoric that being gay is a choice is the notion that it is the wrong choice. The response to anti-gay groups’ should be the message of the ‘born this way’ response.  It says sorry I’m gay, but I can’t help it – I was born this way.

Emphasis should not be placed on choice, but rather explore what diverse ways individuals create and experience sexuality, desire, and romance?  Ultimately, what are the various ways individuals choose to love one another?

Maybe we need not to be afraid then of the word ‘choice’ and instead use it as a source of pride, empowerment, and political force. Therefore the rainbow nation and my fellow comrades in force  and the national gay rights should emphasize the need to choose, choose what to wear, choose what to eat, choose who to love, choose which career to take, choose what to say, choose, choose, choose!. By saying so I feel like we all have the responsibility to choose the being that you want to be.

Fox p. 42 says

The “I was born this way” mantra is restrictive and defensive. More empowering and progressive mantras for the gay rights movement might be: I choose to be as gay as I want; I support the freedom to choose who and how I love; or Love is always a choice.”

I am in agreement with that. We need to expand the sentence to a much more elaborative sentence as per Fox’s assertions.

Classifying individuals as either homosexual or heterosexual creates a false divide between bodies, ultimately reinforcing a sexual hierarchy. Heterosexuality is viewed as the natural, default mode and homosexuality as an inferior deviation from this. Thus heterosexuality becomes the dominant sexuality and homosexuality in need of explanation, tolerance, or subjection.

 

References

1.A paper by Anguita L.A, Tackling corrective rape in South Africa
2.Fox C., Articulating Sexuality
3. South African Constitution

__________________

 

‘Natural’ at home ‘choice lady’ outside

My heart pains
My soul thrives
My breath is wasted

No longer do I count the days of going home
Cities have been my home
Even then I am scared, I shiver, I am traumatized
My living ancestors would come after me

The horse riders will come after me
I am in a black zone
If I meet any home girl they will tell my ancestors about me
Then they will come after me.

I live a double dotted life
At home where acceptance is rare
I am a girl
A girl that should be married
A girl that should be dragged by the boys
For them that is a norm
For them that is natural and God likes it.
I am to be called by names mfazi to makoti
I am supposed to charm men for I am their ground

I have surrendered myself to rape
Before my own people organize it for me as a cure
I am natural at home
I have sustained sexual pains from the one my parents chose for me
I told him three times before he penetrated me
I screamed like a baby but he was on top
I told him it’s painful and he;
He  said ‘kuzoba ngcono’ (it will be better)
I told him not to do it before I bleed
But it was late I was all red

My home was small
Couldn’t even see the cow I live in the kraal
For a minute I felt like it’s better to…
To talk to the cows than humans
For me my family was just strangers I meet in the market.
I was told to allow boys to grab me as long as they wanted.
For a minute I said “I hate men”
Every time I went to fetch water that man was at the tap
He would always whisper “I want more”
And eventually he got more when I went to the shop
Then I did not cry………I was strong………

Now I am in town
I met people of my kind
Kept my Zodwa’s name in my heart
Could tell her what I went through at home…….

Here I live like I am in heaven
I live like God is on my back
I swear God is only found in towns
My pain is gone but the scars left

I wear what I want to
I kiss who I want to kiss even in my dreams
I talk to her any time but not about everything

If I talk to her about this she will leave me
I live a double life
I live a life of being un-cherished to being cherished
From unaccepted to accepted
From being unloved to loved

I live a beautiful life where God exists
Until they kill me in town I shall rest
As long as I won’t feel much pain as that of home
I will die happy and excited
Then tell God about what that man did to me
And therefore indicate to him that I repent if homosexuality is wrong
But it is a good life I ever had than that of sleeping with a man.

My heart is so strong it awaits rest.

________________

About the author

Thozi  Mathe is a student at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in Umtata.
She is currently studying towards her B.Ed degree.
She is an LGBTI activist interested mostly in gender studies.
She is a poet and contributing writer for Isivivane 7, an anthology of poets, writing mostly gender based poems.
She is the founding member of Rainbow-WSU, an LGBTI society at WSU.


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2014 March 25: Mzansi reacts on Mzamo “Mzamie” Gcabashe eviction from Big Brother

 

by Yaya Mavundla

Bubbly, honest, fashion forward, dramatic and of course smart are some of the things that comes up when one thinks of the KwaZulu Natal, Durban born Mzamo Gcabashe.
Amongst so many things that he does, he’s such a great dancer and singer. I remember when I first saw him dance to a Beyonce hot single “Single Ladies” at Miss Gay Durban 2010 that I had booked him for to perform at I was blown away!
I literary melted!
Such a great performer that some of our artists fail to deliver in their concerts.

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Mzamo Gcabashe (2013) Photo by Zanele Muholi

Mzamo Gcabashe (2013)
Photo by Zanele Muholi

I then saw him perform again at KZN LGBTI Fashion Show where I was one of the models in 2010, such a great voice. He sang a song by Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance” and the whole auditorium came to a standstill.

When he told me he was in Joburg I knew he is here to work and he will make it, especially with such a great combination he has, they call it a full package. I always say talent isn’t good enough on it own and I know with Mzamo it is indeed a full package.

Early last month I heard he will be on Big Brother Mzansi and I was so excited. Not only because I know him on a personal level and as a friend but with the fact that he is openly gay, smart, knows his story.  What was the most important fact was that he won’t make fun of us on national television and will be the total opposite of what the society perceive when they think what Black Gay Man is like or how  he behaves. I knew I could count on him to changing such stereotypes and I was right.

On the first day of Big Brother I checked my twitter and came across @TrendsSouthAfrica tweet #Mzamo is now trending in South Africa I was not worried at all that he might be trending because of the wrong reasons.

I then clicked on #BBMzansi which is a hash tag of Big Brother on twitter and what I read there was amazing. The fact that people acknowledged the fact that Mzamo is Gay but behaved just like anyone else who the society consider normal.
People were praising Mzamo on twitter, I was so happy.

I knew he was not going to win million rand, for one, they expected a Gay guy who will be over the top, too much make-up, someone who will subscribe to what seems normal and exciting on Big Brother and someone who will basically seduce men because they are Gay. We all know that in the world we live in, Gay people are associated with sex and drama which is what I always thought it’s sick and I can’t associate with people who think that about me! Mzamo didn’t do that, he proved the whole nation wrong.

As smart, consistent and frank as Mzamo is, that not what Big Brother wanted for them to survive and get more viewers. We all know, TV programmes survives not to be canned because of the numbers, no numbers, no slot on TV. Mzamo was perhaps a let-down to the producers and people at home who find entertainment when a black gay guy or anyone else do silly things such as the incident of Lexi and Mandla who had sex and their pictures of the two naked men went viral on social media, and of course that attracted more people to watch the show.
Mzamo didn’t do any scandals that will attract more viewers and it was time for him to go.

What I know is that most people especially his parents and friends are proud of Mzamo.
 No one will ever search for Mzamo on google and read about his dirty laundry.
For me, Mzamo being on TV is so much about activism and that will help sensitize most people in our society.
I’m sure there are parents who have changed their minds about their children after watching Big Brother. There are parents who now understand that all the stigmas that are associated with LGBTI people are actually not valid. Mzamo made us as LGBTI people look normal, which is what the people we grew up with fail to understand about us. I am proud.

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Mzamie, a photo grabbed from his facebook album.

Mzamie, a photo grabbed from his facebook album.

When Mzamo was announced as one of the house mates that were evicted I was sad, I went on twitter to check what the rest of the people who follow Big Brother Mzansi thinks.

People were furious, they were sad and they didn’t expect it.

The eviction happened after I read a tweet from Candice Nkosi “@Leornard_Sifiso: Umzamo akayi ndawo” she tweeted.
I read harsh tweets from others that read: “BULLSHIT! I’m never watching Big Brother, how could they let Mzamo go”, the other one read “They want people who will have sex, kiss on screen and abuse alcohol and Mzamo was the total opposite hence the eviction” while the other one read, “Ay ave ehleba, akahambe”.

Reading all these tweets made me realise that Mzamo made such an impact while on Big Brother.

 

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"This is the future... watch out this space"

“This is our starlet … watch out this space”

To interact with me please follow me on Twitter and Instagram @YayaRSA or follow Inkanyiso AND Muholi on twitter @Inkanyiso_Org @MuholiZanele

 

Previous by Yaya

 

2014 Feb.8: Mixed emotions at Miss Valentine 2014 in Daveyton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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2014 Feb.21: Gay fear, pay… TEAR

 

Our love contested by critical judgment of the world.
I’ve faced crucifixion.
Like the two thief’s, I’m damned.
Buried and burnt in eternal fire, coz it seems our fire is wrong.
To hell with what we feel- literally.

Layers of blankets can’t hide how u feel about me.
A boiling kettle let’s off steam.

In the face of judgment it’s YOU who are damned.
Damned to live a lie.
Damned you!

I long since embraced myself.
I’ve walked the journey to “being.”
I’m aware, of the stares, chats and murmurs.
Utters of poison to infect my BEING
and lock me INSIDE myself.

But I refuse to die alive.
I refuse to dance to your tune or theirs,
MY LOVE.

The irony of a sacrifice.
Alone in the struggle with you…

Is it love, or fear that prevents you to hold my hand when
I most want you too…when
I most shiver, but walk on…

I battered my pride in exchange for BEING.
A price paid by struggle in my efforts to regain that pride.
And as I shiver and long for you to grab and hold my hand
at the sight of their glaring, piercing eyes.

You walk on…
AWAY from me.
TOWARDS their shadow.

As tears fall IN my MIND…I walk on, smile on my face.

Dared not stumble…
My pride is at stake.
The little gained.

It’s not our love… but my love.
And you call yourself a man…
the irony of that.

 

by Aluta Humbane
© Feb. 2014

 

Previous by Aluta

 

2014 Feb.14: “Black South African visual artist lesbian, Zanele Muholi, in a transparent coffin of love and loss” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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