Category Archives: Articles

2014 Aug. 23: Relatives and friends shed tears at Gift’s funeral and some fainted

Text by Lerato Dumse Photos by Lindeka Qampi When the casket carrying the body of Disebo Gift Makau (23), was lowered six feet underground at a Ventersdorp cemetery, in the North West, on August 23.     Family and friends … Continue reading

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2014 Aug. 22: Photos from Disebo Gift Makau’s Memorial Service

by Lindeka Qampi & Zanele Muholi Where: Stadium Hall, Ext. 2. VentersdorpCamera used:  Canon 6D with different lenses                                             … Continue reading

Posted in 'We live in fear', 'We live in fear' by Zanele Muholi & HRW, 20 Years of Democracy, Act, Action; Referee, Active Black Lesbian Artists in South Africa (ABASA), Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Adoring, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Arguments, Art Activism, Art Activism in South Africa, Art for Humanity, Art Is A Human Right, Articles, Articulation, Before US, Black bodies, Black Bodies of Silence, Black Lesbian, Black lesbian activism, Black Lesbian Love, Black lesbian visibility, Black Lesbians, Black Lesbians & Allies Against Hate Crimes, Black Queer & Gifted, Claiming mainstream spaces, Collaborations, Collective, Collectivism, Comment, Comments from the audience, Commitment, Committed, Communication strategies, Community, Community based media, Community Mobilizing, Community organizing, Community outreach, Community work, Complicated Lesbian Relationships, Confrontation, Corruption, question of history., Questioning, Questions & Answers, Readings, Reason, ReClaim Your Activism, Recognition, recognized, Records and histories, Rumours, Self recognition, Self-worth, Sexual orientation, Sexuality, Sexuality in South Africa, Silence, Social documentary photography, Social responsibility, Solidarity, South African Black Female Photographers, South African politics, South African struggle, South African townships, South African Visible Arts, South African Visual Activism, South African Youth, Speaking for ourselves, Struggling, Supporters, Supporting each other, Supportive mother, Survived by..., Textualizing Our Own Lives, Togetherness, Victim of hate crime in Ventersdorp, Visual activism, Visual activism is a language, Visual Activist, Visual Arts, Visual democracy, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Language, Visual narratives, We Are You, We Care, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, When home is a crime scene, When Love is a Human Right, Where & Who is Justice?, Women loving women, Women suffering, Women who have sex with Women, Women's power, Women's struggles, Women's Work, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Words, Writing is a Right, young women | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

2014 Aug. 21: “We want ACTION. Why must we still fight for OUR RIGHTS!?”

At the forefront of our struggle, at this time of sadness… Activists from Gay Umbrella leading the way to the sport grounds before the Memorial service of Disebo Gift Makau… Angry community members demanding justice for Disebo…     On … Continue reading

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2014 Aug.9: My name is Woman

  My name is woman…My name is woman who loves womenI am created in the image of humanSeek I not in hell nor heaven for I exist only in the midstof the haves and the have notsof the world… To … Continue reading

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2014 Aug. 9: A video of the first Mpumalanga Pride

The 1st MPUMALANGA Gay Pride held on the 9th August 2014 consisted of the following groups: Lowveld LGBTI (Mbombela, Barberton and surrounding locations) Emalahleni LGBTI ( Witbank, Middleburg) GLOM (Ermelo and surrounding townships ) GLOSS (Standerton, Secunda) Kwandebele LGBTI (KwaMhlanga … Continue reading

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2014 Aug. 8: To be honest I love how I look

My name is Katiso Kgope, and I was born on September 18, in 1995. I was born in Glen Wood hospital, Benoni my parents are Mandla Kgope and the late Mpho Kgope – Monyake. I was given the name of … Continue reading

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2014 July 28: Memories never fade away – ‘Foot for Love’

My reflection on our 2012 Paris trip that we, Thokozani Football Club (TFC) had. It all started at the Thokozani football club that I joined voluntarily in 2008, hence I’m proud of myself for making such a good decision. Firstly … Continue reading

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2014 July 28: Comfort’s coming of age ceremony

  Where:  Nquthu, KwaZulu Natal. When:  12th July 2014 Umemulo unjengomshado, usuke uwumakoti ushadiswa nabakini, umhlwehlwe usuke umele i-veil. Ube futhi uyafana ne – 21st yesizulu, ngoba uma umuntu wesifazane emuliswa usuke unikwa ukhiye ukuthi usengakhululeka agane. Igama lami ngingu-Comfort BZ … Continue reading

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2014 July 28: Queer Youth Exchange announcement

      If you are interested in applying for this opportunity kindly email for application forms: hoosain.khan@wits.ac.za or call +27 11 717 4239     

Posted in Abantu, Academic, Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Africa, African, African Queer Beauty, Allies, Announcement, Another Approach Is Possible, Application forms, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Art Edutainment, Articles, As we are, Attention, Audience, Awareness workshops, Baring, Before You, black LGBTIQA, Bringing photography to schools, Career, Celebrating Youth Month in SA, Characters, Claiming mainstream spaces, Collaborations, Collective, Collectivism, Comment, Commitment, Committed, Communication strategies, Community Mobilizing, Community outreach, Community work, Connected souls, Connections, Consultants, Contributors, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative activist, Culture of reading and writing, Delegation, Description, Details, Different positions, Discussion, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Education, Emotional support, Empowerment, Evidence, Experience, Exposure, Expression, Facilitation, Facilitators, Family and Friends, Family support, Freedom of being, Friendships, Gauteng, Gay & Lesbian Memory in Action (GALA), Gender expression, Gender naming, Invitation to apply, Johannesburg, Sexuality in South Africa, Sharing, Sharing knowledge, South African Youth, Support, Supporting each other, Teaching, Visual democracy, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual narratives, Writing is a Right, Youth voices | 1 Comment

2014 July 26: “I was born this way and I cannot change the skin that I live in”

My name is Refilwe Pitso but am popularly known as ‘Fifi’. I was born and raised in Daveyton, Benoni in Johannesburg. I was born on the 27th of December 1991 and I was raised by my mother. She is a … Continue reading

Posted in 1991 -, 2nd Prince, Ackermans, Articles, Beauty, Black Lesbian, Black lesbian beauty, Black Queer & Gifted, Black Queer Born Frees, Characters, Claiming blackness, Claiming mainstream spaces, Community, Community Mobilizing, Community outreach, Competition, Contestants, Contests, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Daveyton, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Documenting realities of the townships, Edited, Family, Family support, Feelings, Female masculinity, Gender naming, Hobbies, Hope, Human Beings, I am not the only one, I can't do it ALONE, I use CANON, I was (T)here, Identity, Lack of Resources, Lack of sponsorship, Lesbian Youth, LGBTI community, Life, Living by example, Loved, Matric, Memories, Moments in herstory, Mr Valentine, Our lives in the picture, Owning our bodies, Pageant, Participants, Participation, Perception, Photo Expressions, Politics of existence, Portrait, Possessed, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Previous life stories, Privilege, Proud lesbian, Proud to be, Queer Beauty Pageants in the townships, Queer Power, Queer visibility, Recognition, recognized, Records and histories, Refilwe in Faces and Phases series, Refilwe Pitso the winner, Safety, Sexuality, Sexuality in South Africa, Shop assistant, Single parent, South Africa, South African Artists, Team Dress Fresh, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Together we can, Togetherness, Tomboy, Visual history, Visual Language, Visual narratives, Visual Power, Visual sense, Visual Voices, We Are You, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Woman, Women loving women, Women's power, Women's Work, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Words, Writing is a Right, Young talent, Youth voices, Zanele Muholi | 5 Comments