by Xana Nyilenda

The 17^th of September 2013 was our intended day of travelling to Los Angeles (LA).
I arrived at the Inkanyiso headquarters in Parktown, to find the crew doing what they do best, working hard. We chilled for a while catching up on old times and having a couple of laughs while Zanele Muholi finished her packing then missioned to the airport with “Q” (Nqobile) as our driver.

The anticipation was building as check in time drew nearer; we feared that we might be a little late for it.
At the back of my mind I had a nagging feeling that I was forgetting something?

With the amount of noise in my head from the conversation in the car, all I could do was sit there nodding like an idiot. I’m pretty sure they could tell I was pretending to be following the conversation if they didn’t; now they definitely will know.
Cramps were killing me; this was not the right time for this to be happening to me I thought. Could Aunt Flo be visiting town while I’m busy leaving town?
I took a deep breath to try and relax myself and think…
Anxiety was all it was and it was building up within me causing an excruciating pain in my abdomen. I breathed even deeper to try and avert from having another one of these panic attacks I’d been having so frequently.

The check in process at O.R. Tambo International airport was a bit of a schlep.
For starters, there were the usual attendants who are too busy running their mouths to even notice you standing in front of them, trying to get their attention.
Why is it that when a black person presents legitimate papers for anything official, they have to be scrutinized like some sort of criminal?
Just a general observation I made of how the front desk lady looked at us with a suspicious expression whilst treating the white man after us with so much courtesy.

Then there was the issue of checking our bags in which I didn’t want to do. I’ve taken a domestic flight before and never had this experience. I had my lotion dumped in a bin which was-kind-of depressing, I can’t stand having ashy knees and elbows.
Just as a matter of interest anything more than 100ml isn’t allowed on a plane whether it’s a liquid or lotion.  I thought to myself,  “You big dummy, you know Americans and American associated companies are afraid of bombs.
Not that I’d stick a bomb in my bag but if I did I wouldn’t be dumb enough to smuggle it in a tub of lotion where it could easily be detected by X-ray machines…

Sept. 18, 2013 in Dubai Intl Airport waiting for our connecting flight to LA.
Sipping fresh mixed berries juice…
© Zanele Muholi

I received my first international stamp on my passport-YAY!
At 19:15 we set off into the air outside of African borders. It was an interesting flight to Dubai.
I had a long talk with my travel partner, getting to know each other, passing a lot of time chatting before she passed out on me, exhausted from the work she had been doing prior to our visit.
I passed time watching movies and listening to music.
Arriving in Dubai at 05:15 on the 18th of Sept. was pretty exciting; stepping out of the plane was a little disorientating though. The sun was already peaking in the horizon, the heat hit me in a flash and it was unbearable, it was hot and humid much like Durban.
The air was thick with the sea breeze; we waited at the airport for our connecting flight to our final destination. I discovered that Dubai is a beautiful city, with an integration of modern technology and various cultures of the world, an international hub of business and beautiful women. I can’t be a lesbian and not notice the women of course.

Three hours into our fifteen-hour flight to LA, the cramps started creeping in my legs, my back was aching so much that numbness started settling in.

I passed out for two hours, which felt like a lifetime to me. With all the time left there was nothing to do but watch movies and listen to music. I felt like a kid in a candy store, so much variety that I didn’t know what to pick. I watched and jammed to a bit of everything.

Honestly at some point I got bored and tired, America is a far place to travel but the excitement of going there overshadowed that.

Upon landing the fun part began we had customs to go through. Greeted by the security who take their jobs so seriously was nerve wrecking. I wasn’t sure if they’d let me in.
It’s been known for them to turn you down from entering their country. This wasn’t the case though it was smooth sailing, guess the only people that think I look suspicious are the South African Police – the irony of it all was almost laughable.
Just so you know Los Angeles looks nothing like what we’ve all seen on television.
Oh how the media have corrupted our minds with silly stereotypes of glitz and glamour. We then chilled and the terminal for our driver to fetch us who was a bit delayed but no worries.
That presented a chance to Skype with a good friend and to discover what the Skype world is about.

I’m still oblivious about that world and I’m not ashamed to say it.
Our driver came at a time when the fatigue had set in.
Legs and feet swollen.
Bloodshot eyes and all.
What seemed like a drive that took forever we finally made it to our hotel in the beautiful Little Tokyo District at the Miyako hotel.
With Muholi completely zoned out and half past dead as she threw herself on her bed, first thing for me to do was shower and follow suit.

To Be Continued…

Previous article featuring Xana

2013 Sept. 23: Leaving Los Angeles

and

2013 Sept. 29: A fierce episode

Photos by Raquel Rodriguez of Queer and Brown initiative.
Location:  Outside Carnegie Art Museum, Pittsburgh, USA.

Latest news from the Carnegie

South African artist wins in the US

Previous by Lerato

2013 October 5: Carnegie opening

L-R: the photographer, Raquel Rodriguez of Queer and Brown initiative and Lerato Dumse, journalist of Inkanyiso media outside Carnegie Art Museum hall.
Photo by Zanele Muholi (08/10/2013)

by bekezela mguni

Call me Eve

I’ll split a pomegranate with you

Share worlds unknown

Only selfish gods would hide

Insecure about their place in the sky

I really want to know you.

Beyond dusk,

Before dawn

Close and quiet,

Loud if you like

I’ll have you oceans wide and bottoms of seas deep

As vast as you are

an endless horizon,

a new constellation,

a thousand time reincarnation,

a Song of Solomon chanted by his most devoted lover

I will write you new gospels

Salvation living on the tips of my fingers

This body is holy

My name a hymn,

Call me

My walk a prayer,

Watch me

Liberation in my embrace,

Come

I will hold you

I can

© bekezela
2013

bekezela mguni is radical librarian, activist, poet, doula, candle maker and cultural worker.
she believes that the collective sharing of knowledge, beauty and inspiration is a part of life’s purpose and brings that intentional spirit to her work.

born in San Fernando, Trinidad, bekezela is currently living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has 10 years of community organizing experience, in which she has worked with LGBTQ communities, youth, women and people of color. she has been organizing with young women of color since her time at the University of Pittsburgh where she co-founded Sisters Beyond the Surface in 2003.

shortly thereafter, she co-founded New Voices Pittsburgh: Women of Color for Reproductive Justice, the only Human Rights organization in Pittsburgh led by, for and about women of color.
bekezela graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies and a Certificate in Women’s Studies.
currently, she is the Program Director for New Voices Pittsburgh where she manages the SistahSpeak!
Youth Project, Women of Color HERStory HERStory Month and the LGBTQ Women of Color Reproductive Justice Series.
bekezela also serves as a proud member of the Ujamaa Collective – a business cooperative for women of African descent working to build a local and sustainable economy in the Hill District of Pittsburgh.
bekezela collaborates with various artists, educators and activists in Pittsburgh in educational, artistic and social justice endeavors.

she is a 2012 Urban Justice Center Human Rights Institute Fellow and  2011 Cathy Raphael Champion of Change recipient from the Three Rivers Community Foundation.
most recently she has completed her Masters in Library and Information Science and was blessed to participate in the first Librarians and Archivists to Palestine delegation in June of 2013.

by Sbu Kheswa

This piece is inspired by Njabulo Masuku’s article: Frustrations of a transgender man.
Boy, I can really feel your frustration.

The challenge is that there are many other transgender people in Njabulo’s shoes.
In fact, the wide gap between the promises of our Constitution and the reality is the daily experience of many South Africans. Think of the high unemployment, the service delivery protests, people living in shacks during the rainy seasons etc.
I agree this is unacceptable.

As a transsexual man, who works for a transgender organisation, Gender DynamiX, I feel like sharing a bit of my personal story when it comes to the challenges of choice to transition.
Sure – I believe I was born transsexual but I had to make a choice to transition or not.  That required a lot of research, considerations and calculations.
Sadly, the general experience of many people who chose to transition is that of loss.
Family members, friends, comrades can divorce you and even worse, employers can make your life very hard.
On top of it all to transition can be extremely expensive.
The services are not yet readily available and that means only people who have the means for cash can do this with less pain.

As I had a job when I chose to transition I could afford a private psychologist.
Thank God for the Standard of Care as those sessions with a psychologist are no longer a requirement.  I would still recommend that people have someone they can talk to about the decision to transition as there is a lot to consider. So the visit with your psychologist or social worker or your prophet or sangoma or whoever you chose might be very beneficial.  Later on I could afford hormonal therapy through private doctors.

Getting employment with Gender DynamiX really opened my eyes. I got better understanding of the work of the transgender organisations here in South Africa. These organisations are there to advocate for the human rights of transgender people. Given the available resources it is highly impossible to serve individual needs of transgender people.  These organisations do their best to direct people to available services and to provide people and service providers with information.

Like everyone I had heard that Cape Town is the best for transgender health services. So I was so happy when I got the job with Gender DynamiX and moved to Cape Town. Shortly after that I made my first appointment with the transgender clinic in Groote Schuur Hospital.  I made sure the surgeon knows that I work for Gender DynamiX and he even sent his greetings too some of my colleagues.
He patiently explained to me how the system works and he was willing to put my name on the list.
Before I could even leave the building I had already made my decision to approach the bank for a loan as waiting for 25 years before my first op was going to be impossible.  My colleague tells she has been on that list for full 12 years.

I wish people could know that there is no special funding that is reserved for individuals’ hormonal therapy or for surgeries.
Donors give organisations money to change systems for the benefit of all.
As an activist who is directly involved in fighting systems I’ve also had to realise that things are not going to change at my pace.  There are meetings and meetings and processes and processes that are involved. The only thing I can do is to keep keeping on.

Maybe this piece will not give you much hope but I really hope it makes you realise that your transition is in your own hands.

About the author

Mr S. Kheswa has been working in the South African LGBTI sector since 2002, where he has held positions at Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action (GALA), Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW), and the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project.

He is a passionate advocator for the most marginalised in society with a strong history in advocacy in a number of human rights based organisations.
He has keen experience in an array of gender based work within South Africa and more widely.
He has worked on various research projects, public education and oral history projects.
He is also a skilled audio-visual historian.
He has presented on different local and international platforms.
His works includes co-writing a chapter in a book: Tommy Boys Lesbian Men and Ancestral Wives: Female Same-Sex Practices in Africa.
He also co-directed Breaking out of the box, a documentary film on black lesbian lives.

Related articles and videos


2013 Aug. 9: Transgender youth suicide in Johannesburg

and

2013 Oct. 4: I sensed something was wrong
and

2013 March 12: Trans(parent) interview
and

2011 May – GDX – SIPD Exchange Programme

by Maureen Velile Majola

I got home at 6:00 as usual, and was excited to see the beautiful Sorita. I quickly said hello with no response.  But of course, Sorita is black deaf lesbian and she couldn’t hear a word I was saying.
I said hello in sign language and she smiled at the effort I made.
I started speaking to Charmain and Xana, asking them questions about Sorita.
Then I realized that it was stupid of me not to ask her all these questions.
I started writing questions down for her and asked her to sign everything to me.
We started having a conversation in sign language.

I asked her to teach me how to sign my name, which was so hard for me but I learned it after a few repetitions.
We then proceeded to learning how to say What, When, Why, Where and How.
These are the words one uses all the time and it’s the basis of learning sign language.

As she was teaching me I was signing to the group telling them what I was saying and Charmain started practicing with me, as both of us had never been in close proximity with a deaf person before. We all found ourselves trying to communicate with her. I tried mumbling words so she could read my lips, then I realized my new friend could not read lips, she could only sign.

I felt a sense of guilt and started thinking.
Why can’t I SIGN?
How can I not know how to SIGN?
Why am I so selfish?
I can speak and comprehend 10 South African Languages and not speaking Afrikaans is a choice.
Now my guilt came from the thought that I Maureen Velile Majola, took an initiative to learn all the other languages but never had I thought of learning one more language that is not official – yet – which I believe should be made official. I never paid attention to learning how to sign, not because I was ignorant at the fact that one day I might find myself with a deaf person trying to communicate. I just didn’t see the importance of learning sign language.

In all honesty I believe hearing people are selfish.  I have been selfish in wanting deaf people to always read my lips because I’m too lazy to learn how to sign. With a population of 0.5% who use sign language as their 1st language, I believe it should form part of the school curriculum (because sign language is the only efficient way to communicate with a deaf person) and yes its 0.5% which might seem small to many but it’s this small percentage that is not spoiled for choice (since we can choose from 11 languages as to which ones do we use as a form of communication)

I took a look at my daily life and realized that everything is for hearing people. From the transportation we use, the TV series, music, a car hooter (which deaf people cannot hear). The shop assistant in all stores (they always speak to you without even thinking that some people can’t hear a word they saying) or that competition on TV that tells you how to enter without subtitles for those who can’t hear them.

Maureen Velile Majola traced by Zanele Muholi (2013)

We (hearing people) always say “music feeds my soul” I wondered if deaf people feel the same way about it.
I thought to myself “if music heals me, if words spoken mean so much to me then what about deaf people?
Do they hold the same sentiments in words like I do, like we do?

I have been so selfish, wanting deaf people to write what they saying down for me so I can respond.
Ngidliwa isazelo!
Because I should know how to sign.
I should be able to communicate with deaf people without any difficulties. Here I am thinking about deaf people and seeing how we have all made this world seem as though it consists of hearing people and no one else.
How have I been so blind about this language, the only language deaf people can communicate with us in?
How have I been living, learning other languages and forgetting one crucial one.
Writing this is freeing my soul and mind from what was holding me back from writing anything in the past 3 months.
It took a moment of silence, a night with a deaf person and that morning walk to Braamfontein to get me writing again.
Who would have thought that silence can change so much.

Related useful resources 

‘See It, Sign It, Know It, Share It’

and

Previous by Maureen Velile

2013 Aug. 26: Just one day

Palesa profiled by Kopano

Palesa Mkhwebane is a beauty with a brain. The aspiring entrepreneur tells me of her future plans as we chit chat.  She ponders and says “I didn’t know I was going to go to university, as I thought going to university was for the rich”.  It’s now a ridiculous thought as she laughs and adds that she honestly thought that to be true until she got access to information around that.

After she matriculated, she took a gap year as she figured out her options.  The gap year came as a blessing to her as she got the opportunity to work with school children at the request of her former teacher.
“I got good results in matric and my teacher asked me to come motivate and tutor the learners because I was good in Maths.  That is where I discovered my calling to be an educator.”

Palesa Mkhwebane, photo taken outside KwaThema Community Hall, Springs, Johannesburg, 2011.
Featuring in Faces & Phases by Zanele Muholi

Palesa went on to win a bursary because of her excellent results, which so far, has covered her tuition and her mom has not had to worry about her school needs.
“When I start working I want to extend my mother’s house” she said. she also mentions that she’s lived all her life in an informal settlement and it’s only been two years since they started living in an Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) house, she also explains that she feels that her mother deserves the best, “I feel like I owe it to myself to do better for my mom” she added.

Palesa has already gained her teaching experience through her practicums.  She has taught high schools and she says “I love teaching! I’m so confident when I’m teaching”. She however says teaching is demanding and it requires a person with passion and patience.  She is an educator and she sees herself teaching for about 8 years.  After that, she plans on furthering her studies so that she can secure a position as a Principal or be working in some capacity at the department of education.  After that she plans on working on her entrepreneurial dream – she would like to run a successful student residence.

With all good things comes the bad.  Her experiences at her first practicum were at Phoenix College.  Her assigned mentor at the school had a problem with her sexuality. “She firstly invited me to church and when I told her I couldn’t make it because I’m Roman Catholic, told me she couldn’t be my mentor and by then I could sense a huge discomfort every time she spoke to me.” The mentor even discussed her with the students and when Palesa found out, she took the matter to the Deputy Principal, who advised that she take the matter up with law enforcement.

She declined but says what happened to her was a learning opportunity for her, because she was able to see a gap as pertains to educating students about homosexuality, which she had never thought of previously.  One of her courses is Life Orientation which help her with addressing subjects around gender roles, lifestyle choices and sexuality.

The 23 year old just got engaged to her girlfriend Palesa Mlangeni who she’s been in a relationship with since 2011. “I want to spend the rest of my life with her” she professes. She doesn’t think she’s too young to get married because she seems to understand one tenet – that succumbing to temptation is a futile exercise.  “The truth always has a way of coming out.”
She concedes that yes she knows there will always be women far more beautiful than her girlfriend but “they can never give me what she gives me.”
She says that when you respect someone and you love that person you will never want to see that particular individual hurt.

_________________

Definitions according to the dictionary…

* practicum

A practicum is a graduate level course, often in a specialized field of study, that is designed to give students supervised practical application of a previously or concurrently studied theory. Practicums (student teaching) are common for education and social work majors. In some cases, the practicum may be a part-time student teaching placement that occurs the semester before a student’s full-time student teaching placement.

* tenet

noun

the fundamental tenet of the ideology: principle, belief, doctrine, precept, creed, credo, article of faith, axiom, dogma, canon; theory, thesis, premise, conviction, idea, view, opinion, position; (tenets) ideology, code of belief, teaching(s).

Previous profiles by Kopano

2013 Sept. 22: Stop this is hurting me…

and

2013 Aug. 13: Love Transcends and Love Prevails

and

2013 July 15: The virus has become a silent relative

and

2013 April 21: Living a legacy is always better than leaving a legacy

and

2013 April 16: Not just a handsome butch lesbian

Candice & Christina @ 2013 Soweto Pride by Xana Nyilenda

Related links

2013 Sept. 30: Intimate kisses at Soweto Pride 2013

and

Previous by Xana

2013 Oct. 4: Cramps were killing me

Photo Album by Akhona Hailele & Zanele Muholi/ Inkanyiso

When:  8th Nov. 2013

Where:  Uncle Tom Hall, Soweto

Who:  MCee’d by Yaya & Lebo

Organized by Tumi, Penny, Letebele, Fino...

Finals to be held on the 7th Dec. 2013

 
Related article

2013 Nov. 8: Miss Gay & Lesbian Soweto 2013 Semis video

2013 Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto pageant

by Lerato Dumse

The Miss Gay and Lesbian Soweto pageant is an idea born in the year 2000 and was turned into an annual event, until 2006. Then the strain of using money from their pockets, due to lack of funding and sponsorship, forced organisers to stop hosting the beauty pageant.

However they refused to give up, and in 2012 the beauty pageant was resuscitated. On Saturday, 7th of December 2013, Soweto Theatre hosted the 9th Miss Gay and Lesbian Soweto.

Although they have upped the standard, even changing venues, their efforts were in vain as the event failed to pull the crowd.

Mpho Maqalika performing at the 2013 Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto

The event kicked off with a powerful poetry performance titled “unattainable soul” by Mpho “Poposki”. The poet also performed another poem titled “My complexion” which speaks of inner peace and not allowing other people’s expectations to lead us to self hatred. While Tumi Ndweni wowed the audience with a drag performance of Brenda Fassie’s Black president.

For their first appearance on stage, the contestants were wearing white, as a way of paying tribute to former President Nelson Mandela, as well as gays and lesbians who’ve been killed.

Labelz & Boiki, the best MCs in town…

Duo, Labelz and Boiki kept the audience entertained as MCs. The pair kept changing from one elegant outfit to another, and Labelz’ humor left people in stitches.

Eva Mofokeng leading the girls in swimwear

The swimwear category followed the tributes and was energetic and beautifully choreographed. The showstopper has to be the formal wear category, which saw contestants pull out all the stops.

The contestants impressed the audience and judges, by strutting their stuff: high heels, makeup, hairstyles and figure hugging dresses. While the lesbians looked handsome in suits, waistcoats, ties and bowties.

Once the “beauty” contest was wrapped up, the top five was selected and asked questions as a way of testing their “brains”. This section is often controversial and entertaining, and this pageant was no different.

Some of the questions asked included:

• When did Nelson Mandela die?
• What is the meaning of lgbti (the contestant quizzed failed to answer)?
• Who was the first black lesbian to come out in public and the media?
• What does the lgbti flag represent?
• What book are you currently reading?

This section resulted in some funny, smart, dull and unfortunately not so smart answers. After the second round of questions, it was time announce the top three.

Miss 2013 Gay Soweto: Nhlanhla ‘Fiona’ Thabatha, 1st Princess, Dimpho Tsotetsi and 2nd Princes Miss Tee Menu

The winners are:

Gays
Queen: Nhlanhla aka “Fiona” Thabatha
1st Princess: Dimpho Tsotetsi
2nd Princess: Miss Tee Menu

Vuvu in best red outfit impressed the audience and came the 2nd Prince…

Lesbians
King: Paballo Tholwana
1st Prince: Nini Moagi
2nd Prince: Vuvu Makubetse

All in all, the event was well organized and the contestants seemed prepared, the most disappointing part is that there was less audience than expected. We hope that the 2014 pageant will have positive vibe considering that we’ll be celebrating South African 20 Years of Democracy.

Women flaunting their all at recent 2013 Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto contest… Centred is Dimpho Tsotetsi who became the 1st Princess. Photos by Zanele Muholi (2013)

Previous by Lerato

Related articles

2013 Dec. 3: Gorgeous people at the Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto 2013 semis

and

2013 Sept. 15: Lack of SA Queer History knowledge at the Miss & Mr Gay Daveyton

and

 Jaw-dropping beauties at the Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto 2013 semi-finals

and

2013 Nov. 8: Miss Gay & Lesbian Soweto 2013 Semis video

Twitter @MissGayLesbianSoweto.

Facebook: Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto 2013.

Click here for more photos from the 2013 Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto finals.

by Yaya Mavundla

Two days before the wedding (19/12/13) everyone at Inkanyiso is confused about when the wedding is.
Is it Saturday or Sunday, we contact a few people in Daveyton and NO one knows about the wedding.
Then we called Lesiba Mothibe (Uthingo Chairperson) who was also unsure.

“You are hereby Summoned to Appear as a Witness for the two Accused, Promise Meyer & Gift Samonne.
Charges: Falling in love.
Court: 607 Vivian Drive, Chris Hani Park, Daveyton.
Sentencing: 22nd December 2013, 14h00 for 14h30”

Promise & Gift sharing a kiss after photo shoot at O.R Tambo gardens, Wattville.
© Photos by Zanele Muholi

Need I say more?
All I can say is we had so much fun after reading the invitation.
We then started with task delegations and were looking forward to the wedding.
I of course had to worry about what to wear, but trust me I wasn’t the only one worried.

Sunday 22^nd Dec. 2013, at 11h30 we were ready to rock and roll. We drove to Daveyton with the team and got there around 12h00. At first we couldn’t find the venue, but eventually we got there after driving around.

“Who is getting married” was my first question when we got into the house.
I was confused; perhaps it was the environment, the setting. I didn’t get a clear indication of what was happening, who was doing what?

At around about 12h15 a very tall gay guy, light in complexion wearing a leopard print vest arrived while we were still chatting to the people who were busy decorating the tent for the wedding. “Hi, I’m sorry I’m late, things are hectic, thank you for coming” and that was Promise, the bride!

We sat next to the tent and asked him a few questions and you could just tell that he was under so much pressure, but I mean it’s his wedding day, its normal.

The honest truth is we were exhausted, we really wanted to see things starting to roll already. I will not lie, I was skeptical that things will be in place by 14h00 to start the programme as the person who was getting married was still busy with the dishes and cooking, basically all over the place, making sure that everything was in order. He eventually got dressed, but I wasn’t convinced that things would be ready by 14h00!

To my surprise, things were ready before 14h00.
I really loved the Kilt skirts, such a statement! The taxi that was confirmed to transport bridesmaids and groomsman to O.R Tambo Cultural Precinct for pictures didn’t pitch!
Luckily we came to the wedding with a taxi so things came together and were off to O.R Tambo.
The energy from everyone in the taxi was amazing, we partied so hard on the way and everyone was ready to pose like a cover girl.

When we got to the venue, the bride (Promise) directed everything very smoothly. It was his task to do so, as he was also the wedding planner.
As always, there will always be show stoppers and the ones that just don’t get it, like they would say on twitter #TheStruggleContinues, trust me that’s exactly what happened.  Some of the grooms men just didn’t get it, but then again, they are “butch” so we can forgive them.

While we are busy with the pictures, I had a chat with the bride, Promise Samonne-Meyer, I could tell that he was now a bit calm than he was when we were at the house earlier.
I asked him, what would you like to tell me about today’s experience?
He immediately responded “I am so happy knowing that everything is going on as planned, we are making history in Daveyton, we are the 1st Gay Couple to get married here” I was impressed.

Even when he was posing for pictures with his husband, you could tell that he was happy.

After wrapping up at the Precinct, we rushed back home. When we got there, boom, everything was ready and people were all over the place including curious neighbors.
The deco was stunning in red and white. I loved how they made everything look intimate.
Proceedings started immediately after everyone was seated in nice round tables of 10 seats.
Mini platters with samoosa’s, small pieces of fried chicken and onion rings were placed amongst glamorous cutlery, and of course a bottle of champagne.

Before the programme director, Eric Motsema even started with the programme people started helping themselves with the food.
Then the official opening of the ceremony started by prayer led by female Pastor Ndlovu.

The process got disturbed for a while because Promise had to connect with his ancestors, since both newly weds are sangomas (traditional healers).
Eventually things got back to the programme, the Pastor mentioned “njengoba nilalana anihlukanga ndawo, okwenzakalayo phakathi kwenu ningakukhipheli ngaphandle ngoba kuyohamba nomoya, uthando luyabekezela.”
After the Pastor finished preaching, family and friends began sharing their thoughts, wishes and experiences they had with the couple.

The most moving message came from the mother of the bride, Mrs Shezi who spoke so fondly about the couple and her son Promise.  She confirmed to everyone that she supports and gives the two her blessings.

She went as far as saying “angizange ngitshele muntu ngalomcimbi, abantu abaningi nje engibabona lana ng’yaqala ukubabona. Abanye ngike ngababona emagcwabeni. Anginandaba ukuthi abantu bathini, uPromise ngumntwana wami, ukuthi omunye umuntu uthini anginandaba.”

You could tell who was there to see where ‘will this end.’
And you could also tell who was there to support, as there was a minority that was very shied away and not even willing to turn their faces towards the cameras.

Promise’s mother receiving a gift from the son-in-law, Gift…

Towards the end, the couple shared their wedding vows, flittering and so excited.
With a beautiful smile, Mpho made it clear that he “will always be there for Promise to comfort, love, honour and cherish” him at all times.
He also promised to be a true and faithful partner.

While Promise said he will comfort his husband in times of sorrow and struggle, to cherish and always hold him in highest regards.
The couple decided to use double barrel surnames for their union.
Then the couple cut the cake and fed each other.

The guests were smitten, and then it was time to pop the champagne.

The guests were served with variety of food between rice, pap, chicken, beef, fish and a number of salads.
I spotted a lot of exciting people, some of them were the former Miss Gay Daveyton, Lesiba Mothibe, and dancer Xoli Ntsebeza to mention a few.

L-R: Xoli, Xolani, Lesiba, Yaya & Thembi

The atmosphere was just beautiful, you know when people are happy, and that’s exactly what was happening there.
Inkanyiso media were the official documenters of the whole event.
Some well dressed persons wanted to shine, forgetting that it was Mpho and Promise’s moment.  All in all we had a great time.

About the author

Yaya Mavundla (25) is a writer, cultural activist and events organizer.
Previously worked with Exit and Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto.
Currently contributes to Inkanyiso media.

by Buli Vimbelela

As the New Year has dawned on us, for many it is a time to reflect. Just like a few weeks ago we got to reflect back on the great life lost in Tata Nelson Mandela.  This period brought back a lot of emotions in many of us, sadness, relief and for some uncertainty, but mostly gratitude.

This time got me thinking a lot about where we come from as a country and as a people. Prior to Tata Mandela’s release, it was even more difficult than it is now, to express oneself as an Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex (LGBTI) person/s in South Africa. Through all the reflection, thinking and mourning, I found myself consumed by thoughts of what it means for us to be LGBTI.

For me, being recognized in our constitution, means that we were seen and given a platform.  We were given a platform to live freely. Now, one would ask how we can live freely in a society that struggles to accept us. I have found that people are frightened by what they don’t understand and don’t know. The teachings and all the fighting for recognition as the LGBTI community has been done over the years and as we know the persecutions, hate crimes and killings are still happening. Maybe this then calls for a different approach to tackling these issues.

My feeling is that we cannot fight to be recognized while living in hiding. We cannot advance with a spirit of apathy. We have to make ourselves visible in the communities we live in. So, ours is not only to carry flags and posters bearing slogans of whatever issues we are faced with or we are marching for, at the time.

In my view, our role is to be ‘active’ in the way we live our lives. It should be our responsibility to show people that we are no different from others, that we only differ on our sexual orientation/ preferences and that we are more than just our sexual orientation.
People need to know that we get faced with the same struggles that people in heterosexual relationships are faced with.

My partner and I are currently staying within a community where we both grew up. This community is dominated by an older generation and these are the people who struggle with change of all sorts.
Homosexuality being one of them.
With all that said, I am amazed by the welcome and embrace we’ve received from them, as a lesbian couple.

The thought of it used to scare me so much that I felt I needed to hide our relationship. Social norms weighed heavily on me as I was perceived as this noble, good independent single mom. Naturally, some people struggled to understand how this could be. They could not fathom why or how I could be in a relationship with another woman. As intimidating as this was, remained strong in our resolve to be together!
We chose to live our lives in the best way we knew how. It’s true what they say that ‘you teach people how to treat you’ by the way you live your life.

A friend of mine, Thandeka, grew up amongst gays and lesbians in her family, yet she didn’t understand their way of living.
We started hanging out with her, with our other circle of friends within the LGBTI community. She started warming up and realizing that there was actually nothing wrong or strange with being a lesbian or gay.

I remember how she would exclaim ‘Hawu kanti abantu laba, heyi kodwa ziyaphila izitabane’ – lol
[roughly translated: she didn't realize that homosexuls are normal people and that she's impressed with the lives they lead].
She has since developed a different perspective about homosexual people.

So my point here is, let’s live our lives with the aim of helping people understand us.
Let’s not only be activists when there is a protest or funeral of one of our own.
And to lesbian mothers, let us love our children; involve them to also help them have a better understanding about us.

(LOOK OUT FOR MY NEXT ARTICLE ON THIS TOPIC).

Previous by Buli

2013 Nov. 19: Love is a beautiful thing

Portfolio #1/2014

A photo album by Nqobile Zungu

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

Pregs Govender who opened with keynote speech…

Gabrielle Le Roux, artist showing the trans series…

Melissa Steyn speaking on behalf of WAM…

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

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

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

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

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

Handsome Meme Motaung posing next to own photo.

“I’m a fan…”

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

Her name is Fifi and she is beautiful…

on the right is Joyce Machepha with a friend…

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

Julia Charlton speaking at the opening…

A BIG THANK YOU!

Wednesday the 29^th 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

Umbhalo nezithombe

by Londeka Dlamini

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.

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

Prepared by Wits Art Museum (WAM)

This talkabout is part of ‘Queer and Trans Art-iculations: Collaborative Art for Social Change’ exhibition.

Other important dates are:

15 February 12h00

Family TALKABOUT with Leigh Blanckenberg

22 February 12h00

Artist TALKABOUT with Zanele Muholi

Exhibition facilitators will be available on Wed-Sun 10h00-16h00

Exhibition dates: January 30 – March 30, 2014

Related links

Expressions of freedom at Wits Art Museum

This short documentary is an exploration of Black Queers in SA (Beauties)… Queerizing Public Spaces.
Produced in Durban in 2013, an exchange between black trans/ femme gay identifying persons from Durban and Johannesburg.
Continuous documentation of Inkanyiso Productions celebrating our queer selves as we are heading toward 20 Years of Democracy.

This is one the video archive from the event that took place on the 14th Feb. 2014. More than 200 people were in attendance…
Muholi would like all those who gave her support from the start till present.

Documented by Neo, Themba, Thula.
Edited by Malibongwe for Inkanyiso media.

Reflections on Zanele Muholi’s talk @ Impact Hub Oakland
by Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene 

“I’m a visual activist.  I prefer, or want, to think that what I’m doing is activism using visuals as means to articulate my many issues…Activism, activism—to be heard, to be respected, to be recognized, to be counted in history…
This is my work.”
~Zanele Muholi

I’ve known Zanele since 2009 and have loved her work since then.  Reveled in the wonder every time I encounter her work.  I want to find a way to bring you into the room.
As Zanele shared her work with us at Omi Gallery/Impact Hub Oakland—as a Nigerian dyke, I was being seen in ways that I don’t get seen everyday.  The poems I be writing, the verses I be rocking on stages—all were before me in her photographs.  Even though those stories were not mine, somehow those photographs made room for me to be and breathe.

Zanele had a conversation with us and shared her current work “Of Love and Loss”, a photography series which documents African lesbian weddings, funerals and photos of her and her girlfriend exploring their love and relationship.
She also screened a documentary ‘We Live in Fear’ in which  she collaborated with Human Rights Watch, which explores her visual activist work in South Africa.
I strongly suggest you watch it if you haven’t already, it’s brilliant.
I love that she told us the names (first names and surnames) of the people she photographs, who she calls participants, not subjects, whose stories she shared with us with care and respect.

I felt the fullness of these images and stories filling the room.  That these people who are so often reduced to one-dimensional subjects in the limited imaginations of non-Africans, and some Africans too, have faces and names and make jokes and wear cute shoes.  It was a gift to get to hear their voices and see the expressions on their faces.  And in seeing this, the vibrant presence of these stories made it clear what is missing from so much of the conversation of LGBTI Africans—what’s missing are Queer Africans speaking for themselves.

It was not always easy to sit inside my skin as we listened to Zanele share about her work.  It was not easy to hear about the brutal rapes and murders of LGBTI people in South Africa.
I wanted to turn off.
Turn my heart off.
And I wanted to just weep.
Being an African dyke, a South African lesbian, a Queer African is not something that can be oversimplified according to western, queer, activist standards or by hatred cloaked in religion—these identities, these lives we live cannot just be reduced to someone else’s judgment or to the pain we survive.  We are more than just the pain we survive.  Because there is laughter and magic in us.  There are crushes and love.  There is getting our hair done.  There is creating queer family.
There is this beautiful art we make.  And keep making.  And keep making.  Part of what is so astounding about Zanele’s work is that she shows us the pain as well as the beauty, both with such candor, you can’t ignore it.

The fierce tenderness of her gaze behind her lens is palpable.  And this was the balm to the pain inside me.  Zanele’s love and respect for African Queer lives feels like an embrace I didn’t know I was missing.  She is loving us with the fierceness we deserve.  I always wonder who takes care of the warrior.
The one who speaks up for us all—how do we support her? 
How do we raise our voices in unison with her? 
What are we doing on the daily to create the world we crave? 
Sometimes I think when people see a strong someone doing activist work, they relax a little bit—thinking, “oh, well thank God someone is saying something.”
I think that is an easy way out.
What can I do in my own way that is creating the world I want for us all?
That is a question I want each of us to ask ourselves daily.  We cannot let the burden of liberation work fall on the shoulders of the candid warriors amongst us.  We must join in the loving work of art making, of activism, of speaking in the mediums and spaces we can about what we can.

This is what Zanele and her work teach me.  And us.  We all have work to do.  We cannot sit back and let someone else speak for us.  Zanele’s work reminds me of my own fuschia-colored dreams.  Of my own mango poems.  Of my own guava dances and sugarcane verses.  I must give these to the world.  I must make the work that is stirring in my chest and share it with the world.  I must work alongside brilliant beings like Zanele so that all our voices are rising together.  This na collective thing we dey do o.

Looking at the breadth, breath, body and massiveness of Zanele’s work, I wonder when she sleeps.  I’m not sure she sleeps.  I know what it is to be driven by something greater than you.  She reminds me that that thing is what matters.

Zanele, thank you for loving us the way you do. 

Thank you.
I love you too.
We love you too.

(Zanele Muholi’s Artist Talk took place at Omi Gallery/Impact Hub Oakland, California on March 10, 2014)
SF Jazz Artist talk will be held on 12th March 2014 in San Francisco.

About the author

Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene’s portrait taken in Oakland, US on the 9th March 2014

Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene is an Ijaw and Urhobo Nigerian dyke performance activist, poet, dancer, writer, actress and video artist.  She engages a radical vulnerability and candor in her artwork and uses storytelling to build authentic human connection through passionate artistic expression.

Etaghene is a mixed-media visual artist who has produced four solo art exhibitions and has performed internationally. She was interviewed by and was a Contributing Writer to None on Record: Stories of Queer Africa, a digital media project that collects the stories of LGBT Africans from the African Continent and the Diaspora.  Etaghene is the founder of Sugarcane, an LGBTQ Of Color writing workshop based in the principles of June Jordan’s Poetry for the People. GUAVA, her second one woman show, a multi-media performance about queer African identity debuted in 2013.  Her second album of poetry, Nigerian Dyke Realness, drops in 2014.

Etaghene’s first novel, For Sizakele, which addresses Queer African love, identity and inter-partner violence, will be released June 20, 2014. www.myloveisaverb.com, twitter: @myloveisaverb

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

by Yaya Mavundla

Men are so intimidated by women that they are even scared women will take over. It’s a sad case but then again, it needs attention because it will put women’s lives in danger.

This past weekend (20-22 March 2014) I attended Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg at Sandton Convention Centre and Celebrity Fashion Show at Melrose Arch and in both spaces I faced same challenges.

On Thursday I was not really keen on attending but when Lesiba Mothibe convinced me that we go I thought let me just go especially because I always enjoyed Marianne Fassler and Abigail Betz shows. Luckily we still had enough time to get ready and still catch both shows as Marianne was showing at 19h30 and Abigail at 21h00.

Lesiba was so excited and told me how she adores Marianne Fassler. We rushed and took taxis to JHB CBD and went to the Gautrain at Park Station to Sandton. We got at the station on time and the train took exactly 8min and we were in Sandton. We then immediately rushed to Sandton Convention Centre where the Fashion Week by Africa Fashion International was happening. We collected our accreditation and went inside and sadly, we found the show halfway in, so we could not watch the whole collection by Marianne but we still got to experience the whole collection by Abigail which were both amazing!

During the interval waiting for the next show it got so busy that you literary feel like you are in Times Square in New York. Countless celebrities, cameras flashing as if they had seen Kim Kardashian and Kanye West walk past and you got to experience different looks/fashion.

The backstage was worse in a way that for a moment if you had watched Devil Wears Prada you will believe it that it is déjà vu.

People in general have issues seeing a women carrying a camera, worse if they are dressed up with make-up and the works. I was constantly asked to show my wristband when I wanted to go backstage even though my lanyard was written photographer and all photographers had access to the backstage and after showing them the wristband I will get the look “are you sure you are a photographer?” 

Little did I know that the worst was yet to come! When Abigail Betz show started I decided I would not sit in my allocated seat but will stand where other photographers are. The last time I saw such angry people was on a movie I watched at the Out In Africa film festival opening a years ago that I even forgot what it was called. Men were so angry that I had come to distract them. I really do not know how because we all had the same view of the runway. I was constantly asked to move because they are trying to take photographs of the models but mine was “I am doing the exact same thing you are trying to do, so let’s respect each other”. They really didn’t get the idea of why would someone with make-up and high heels be a photographer, it’s for men.

Just after the show, people that knew me asked me questions, if am I now a photographer?
Why would I do men’s job, but still the same people wanted me to photograph them and asked questions like “are these going to be on your blog?”
“When can I check it out” I’m like people are so typical, it sad.

Just when I thought it was better, when I was at the Celebrity Fashion Show I felt like it was World War III. I was literary attacked by one photographer who came to me and said I’m blocking the view for the people who are seated, I mean the runway is like approximately 110 metres long.
I couldn’t believe it!
My response was, “where do you come in? can’t they say this themselves?”

 “Well I will not move because basically what you want to do is stand here on the same position I’m standing” He decided to move and go somewhere else.  From that experience I learnt that most men are cowards, they know there are always people who are capable of doing what they do better than them.  People that are women specifically have chances of making it as big in the industry that is associated with men. That boosted my confidence and love to photograph events.
The power we possess can make the world be in a stand still.

To interact with me follow me on twitter and Instagram @YayaRSA.

You can follow Inkanyiso on twitter @Inkanyiso_Org or Zanele Muholi @MuholiZanele

Previous by Yaya

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

The task of a writer engaging with the work of artists and activists is an important one.

The critic does not only draw attention to the work of particular people but provides a way for readers and viewers to translate and understand the works they view. What is written about the work of visual activist Zanele Muholi, for instance, can help us to think about questions of race, sexuality, violence and intimacy post-apartheid. On the other hand, a writer responding to her images can compound problematic ways of seeing and thinking and can, even if unwittingly, reinforce homophobic views. This is unfortunately the case in art critic Mary Corrigall’s review of Muholi’s latest exhibitions in Johannesburg published in the Sunday Independent on the 2^nd of March 2014.

In a tone strangely reminiscent of a conservative right-winger in the United States, Corrigall argues that the art world has provided Muholi with a place for “her” (quotation marks in the original) community because the art world “has always been a gay-friendly if not gay-dominated one”. In this way the review elides the fact that black women artists, let alone black lesbian artists, number few in our context. At the same time it fails to consider the psychic toll and physical risks involved in being South Africa’s most visible queer activist in a context of extreme homophobia and violence. Corrigall also questions whether Muholi’s activism extends beyond the art-world. This betrays her ignorance of the organization Muholi founded, Inkanyiso, as well as what Muholi’s work has meant for queer activists both here and abroad.

The review focuses on “Of Love and Loss”, a series of photographs that record and celebrate queer weddings and that document the funerals of lesbians who have been raped and killed. These two kinds of ceremonies are important social rituals for queer communities and are both private spaces of joy and of grief as well as political spaces that show how far we have come and how far we have to go before there is justice for all in our country. Corrigall also mentions Muholi’s current show with Gabrielle Le Roux at the Wits Art Museum, “Queer and Trans Art-iculations: collaborative art for social change”. Corrigall argues that the uniformity of Muholi’s treatment of those she photographs in her “Faces and Phases” series reduces the space for the expression of individuality. My own reading of Muholi’s work is that something much more complex is at work in this extensive portrait series. “Faces and Phases” mobilises the conventions of memorial portrait photography to open a space for mourning and at the same time queers that space by juxtaposing images of the dead with multiple portraits of living queer subjects.

Corrigall insists that Muholi’s desire is to “normalize” homosexuality. It is important to point out here that homosexuality is not abnormal and therefore does not require normalization. It is should also be noted that while Muholi claims a place for queer subjects within the dominant order this is not to say that her photographs normalize people and practices considered by some as deviant. On the contrary, what her work aims to do is to refuse the bounds of the so-called normal, by not simply expanding but by exploding such limits.

There is a growing body of scholarly writing about Muholi’s work by academics in South Africa like Desiree Lewis, Pumla Gqola, Zethu Matebeni and myself, and by people like Andrew van der Vlies, Brenna Munro and Henriette Gunkel in the UK, the US and Europe.
Corrigall would have done well to have read some of this work or spoken to some of the writers. It also would have helped had she spoken with the artist or read some of Muholi’s insightful reflections on her own work.

As it stands Corrigall’s piece displays an astonishing lack of consciousness about the politics of race and representation as well as of the intersections between compulsory heterosexuality and sexual violence as experienced by women in South Africa, queer-identified or not, and by men who do not perform heterosexist normativity. She critiques Muholi, whose life’s work is to portray black queer experience after the end of apartheid, and black lesbian experience in particular, for not documenting the lives of white lesbian women. She goes on to write, “Similarly, what of all the heterosexual women in this country who are raped and murdered because they don’t conform to conventional or traditional ideas about women imposed on them? Or is this too everyday a subject?
Who Muholi photographs doesn’t only determine who turns up on opening night, but exposes who is in, or out.” Violence visited upon heterosexual women is bound to the violence queer people experience in South Africa. Addressing homophobia is at the same time to address heteronormative patriarchy.

What are the connections between the murder of Anene Booysens who was raped and disemboweled in the Western Cape in 2013 and the murder of Duduzile Zozo who was raped and killed, her body found with a toilet brush inserted into her vagina in Gauteng in 2013?
Was Anene straight or queer?
Was Duduzile a mother?
Why does this matter?
It matters only in as much as certain people are marked for death as a result of their choices about who to love; about what they wear; about how they choose to think and about whether and with whom they choose to have children. Should all acts of rape be understood as hate crimes?
Are white women subject to the same kinds of violence as that experienced by black women in South Africa?
These are important questions that Muholi’s work opens up and that the series of rhetorical questions that Corrigall’s review poses, but makes no attempt to answer, shuts down.

Corrigall’s closing line, in which she writes that Muholi’s choice of participants for her portrait work “exposes who is in, or out” implies that Muholi’s work has aestheticized lesbian rape and has made of homophobic violence a kind of fashionable topic. This is offensive on many levels and makes clear that Corrigall fails to grasp the political force of Muholi’s work and overlooks the artist’s personal position in relation to this subject. Not every review of Muholi’s photographs can or should necessarily serve to amplify the message of her work. However, when you consider that her message is that all people, queer or not, have a right to a place in this world then you have to ask what it means to write against this. When the then Minister of Arts and Culture Lulu Xingwana walked out of the Innovative Women exhibition in 2009 she left, not, as Corrigall claims, because she thought the works she saw there were pornographic. She left because she claimed the photographs on display were “immoral, offensive” and “went against nation-building”. This kind of statement from those who hold power in our country and who determine who is afforded a place in the nation- state is in fact, what, to quote Corrigall, “exposes who is in, or out”.

Kylie Thomas

14 March 2014

kyliethomas.south@gmail.com

This piece was written in response to Mary Corrigall’s review of Zanele Muholi’s work,
“Sense of Belonging” published in the Sunday Independent, 2 March 2014.

About the author

Kylie Thomas lives in Cape Town where she teaches and writes about the history and representation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic; violence during and after apartheid; and about photography and visual activism.

Related articles on “Of Love and Loss” exhibition

The Constitution of Love and Loss

and

Zanele Muholi’s new work mourns and celebrates South African queer lives

and

Spreading hate in the name of God