Category Archives: Black Lesbian

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

Posted on August 21, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

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 →

Posted in 'We live in fear', Act, Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Africa, African, Allies, Anger, Announcement, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Arguments, Art Activism in South Africa, Art Edutainment, Art Is A Human Right, Art is Queer, Art Solidarity, Art Therapy, Articles, Articulation, As we are, Beauty, Before US, Before You, Being conscientized, Being Scene, Black bodies, Black Bodies of Silence, Black Female Body, Black Lesbian, Black lesbian activism, Black Lesbian Congregants, Black Lesbian Men, Black Lesbian professionals, Black lesbian visibility, Black Lesbians, Black Lesbians & Allies Against Hate Crimes, Hate Crimes, Hate crimes Victims names, Homosexuality, Lesbian beauty contests, Lesbian Love Is Possible in South Africa, Lesbian Professionals, Lesbian Youth, Lesbianism, LGBTI community, lgbti issues in South Africa, Life, Lindeka Qampi, Lord, Lord is the Christ, Love, Love is a human right, Love is Queer, Loved, Lovely words, Moments in our history, Obituary, Odidi Mfenyana, Of Love and Loss, Organisations, Organizations, Organizing, Ownership of the self, Owning our bodies, Participants, Participation, Photo album, Photo Expressions, photographers, Photographs, Photography as a therapy, Police Intervention, Politics, Politics of existence, Politics of geography, Politics of representation, Poverty, Power of the Voice, Prayer, Praying, Press statement, Queer Africans speaking for themselves., Readings, Recognition, Respect, Respect & Recognition from our community, Response, Sexual Offences Bill, Sexual orientation, Social documentary photography, Social responsibility, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Together we can, Togetherness, Undermined, Video clips, Videographer, Videography, Visual Power, Visual sense, Visual Voices, We Are You, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We were (t)here, What black lesbian youth wants, When home is a crime scene, When Love is a Human Right, Woman, Womanhood, Women loving women, Women's power, Women's struggles, Women's Work, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Words, Writing is a Right, Young Black Women and Photography, Young talent, Young Women and Visual Activism, Youth voices, Zanele Muholi, Zulu is a language | Tagged , | 5 Comments

2014 Aug. 19: Makau family mourns the brutal murder of their beloved

Posted on August 20, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

On the 19th Aug. 2014, Inkanyiso members visited the home of the recent victim of hate crime, Gift Disebo Makau in Ventersdorp. Her dead body was discovered directly opposite her mother’s home, 70 metres away. She was a young ‘out’ lesbian … Continue reading →

Posted in 'We live in fear', Black, Black bodies, Black Bodies of Silence, Black Female Body, Black Lesbian, Black lesbian activism, Brutality of black lesbian murders, Hate Crimes, Hate crimes Victims names, Translation, Violence, Visibility, 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, Visual Power, Visual sense, Visual Voices, Visualizing public spaces, We Are You, We Care, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, What black lesbian youth wants, When Love is a Human Right, Woman, Womanhood, Women loving women, Women's struggles, Young Women and Visual Activism, Zanele Muholi | 23 Comments

2014 July 26: What I want as a black lesbian youth

Posted on July 31, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

My name is Lebogang Mashifane, I’m 25 years old and I live with my mother in Kwa-Thema, east of Gauteng, South Africa. I have recently relocated from Cape Town, South Africa. I hold a Diploma in Multimedia Technology from CPUT … Continue reading →

Posted in 1976 Youth, 1986 -, 20 Years of Democracy, Academics, Acceptance, Activists, Activists Act, African Queer Beauty, Another Approach Is Possible, Apartheid, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Arguments, Art Activism, Art Is A Human Right, Articulation, Artist Talk, As we are, Before You, Being conscientized, Black Lesbian, Black lesbian activism, Black Lesbian Artists, Black Lesbian Graduate, Black Lesbian professionals, Black lesbian visibility, Black Queer & Gifted, Black Queer Professionals, Cape Town, Cape Town to Johannesburg, Claiming, Collaborations, Collective, Commitment, Committed, Communication strategies, Community based media, Community outreach, Community work, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative activist, creative artist, Creative writer, Creative Writing, Education, English, Feelings, Freedom of being, Generations, Issues, Lack of Resources, Language, Lebo Mashifane, Legacies of Violence, Lesbian Professionals, Lesbian Youth, Lessons learnt, LGBT community, Poverty, question of history., Readings, Reason, ReClaim Your Activism, Recognition, Records and histories, Related links, Relationships, revolution, Seeing difference, Seeking help, Self acceptance, Sexuality, Sharing knowledge, Sharing thoughts, Social responsibility, South Africa, Speaking for ourselves, Supportive mother, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Together we can, Togetherness, Unemployment, Videographer, videographers, Visual activism is a language, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Language, Visual Power, Visual sense, Visual Voices, Visualizing public spaces, We Are You, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, What black lesbian youth wants, Women loving women, Writing is a Right, Young Black Women and Photography, Young talent, Youth voices | 1 Comment

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

Posted on July 27, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

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

2014 July 26: The luxury was on another level at the 2014 Design Indaba

Posted on July 26, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

  Five months later… by Yaya Mavundla How often does a black transwoman from the rural areas get to meet Victoria Beckham in person; have breakfast in the same restaurant with Carlos Santana, fly around Cape Town in a helicopter? … Continue reading →

Posted in "There are few good men", 2014 Design Indaba, Acceptance, Act, Acting, Activists Act, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Art Activism, Art Activism in South Africa, Art Edutainment, Art Is A Human Right, Art is Queer, Art Solidarity, Art Therapy, Articles, Articles; South African Celebrities; Arts; 2013 Feather awards; Lerato Dumse; Song; Dance; Kelly Khumalo; Thembisile Ntaka; Brenda Mntambo; Recognition; Thami Kotlolo; Gays & Lesbians; 5th Feather, Artist Talk, Artists, Arts, As we are, Athi Patra Ruga, Attention, Audience, Awareness workshops, Before US, Before You, Being conscientized, Being Scene, Black Lesbian, Black Lesbian professionals, Black Queer & Gifted, Blackness, Body, Body Politics, Cape Town, Characters, Clear with own plan, Communication strategies, Community, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative activist, Creative writer, Cultural activists, Description, Designers from around the world meet in Cape Town, Details, Different positions, Documentary, Documenting realities of the townships, Dress code, Dress sense, Elegance, Emotional support, Empowerment, Entertainment, Event, Evidence, Exchanging Queer thoughts, Experience, Expression, Facilitation, Fashion, Friendships, Gender expression, Gender naming, Interpretation, Know Your SA Queer History, Laughter, Lindeka Qampi, Luxury, Nandi Mntambo, Our lives in the picture, Participants, Participation, Poster, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Recognition, recognized, Records and histories, Reflection, Relationships, Respect & Recognition from our community, Respected person, revolution, Sexuality, Sharing knowledge, Solidarity, South African Artists, South African Visual Activism, State of Art, Style, Support, Supporting each other, Transwoman, VIP area, 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 were (t)here, When Love is a Human Right, Yaya Mavundla | Leave a comment

2014 July 19: Paris post cards from Cite Des Arts

Posted on July 19, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

Birthday self portraits by Zanele Muholi …@Cite Des Arts in Paris. In commemoration of my late mother, Bester Muholi who gave birth to me and endured the constraints of birthing.           more photos to be included … Continue reading →

Posted in Act, Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Adoring, Alternative career choices, Another Approach Is Possible, Beauty, Black, Black Bodies of Silence, Black Female Body, Black Lesbian, Black lesbian activism, Black Lesbian Graduate, Black Queer Artists, Blessings, Body, Body Politics, Butch identifying lesbian, Claiming blackness, Clear with own plan, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Description, Gratitude to my lover, Happy birthday to me, I am not the only one, I love photography, I was here, In bed, Love, My body, No artificiality, On tripod, Ownership of the self, Owning our bodies, Paris, Photo album, Photography, Photography as a therapy, Platform, Political Art, Politics of existence, Politics of geography, Politics of representation, Portrait, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Relationship with own body, Self love, Self portraits, Support, Visual Power, We Are You, We Care, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, Whiteness, Words, Zanele Muholi @ Cite Des Arts in Paris, Zulu is a South African language | 3 Comments

2014 June 10: The Ndlela’s are still committed to love

Posted on June 22, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

by Charmain Carrol On the 6th of June 2014, I had the pleasure of accompanying the Ndlela’s to Cape Town, to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.  It seems like it was just last month when I attended their wedding in Durban … Continue reading →

Posted in Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, As we are, Beauty, Black Lesbian, Black Lesbian Congregants, Black Lesbian professionals, Black lesbian wedding, Members of VMCI in Durban, Relationships, Solidarity, South Africa, Speaking for ourselves, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Traditions & Customs, Visual Activist, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Language, Visual Power, Visualizing public spaces, We Are You, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, When Love is a Human Right, Women's power, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Words, Writing is a Right, Zanele Muholi, Ziningi & Delisile Ndlela, Zulu is a South African language | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

2014 June 21: Vanessa and Nana’s engagement party

Posted on June 21, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

Photos and text by Charmain Carrol. Four months ago… Where:  Midrand, Johannesburg When:  23rd March 2014 Bathini Dambuza and I were honoured to attend yet another engagement lunch of two of our fellow lesbian sisters held in Midrand, Johannesburg. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Butches and Femmes, Black Lesbian, Black Lesbian Artists, Black Lesbian Dancers in South Africa, Black Lesbian professionals, Black Queer Born Frees in South Africa, Black Queer Professionals, Blackness, Butch identifying lesbian, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Emotional support, Gender distinction, Midrand, Photo album, Speaking for ourselves, Special event, Visual Arts, Visual Language, Visual Power, Visual Voices, Visualizing public spaces, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, When Love is a Human Right, Women who have sex with Women, Women's Arts In South Africa (WAISA), Women's power, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Words, Writing is a Right, Young talent | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

2014 May 7: Voting for the first time today

Posted on May 7, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

by Sebenzile Nkosi   I’ve been up since 4:34 am in Johannesburg, South Africa. I know I’m a bit over excited that I will be voting for the first time today.  Although I was old enough to vote in the past two … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 Elections in South Africa, Another Approach Is Possible, Black Lesbian, Corruption, Education, Homosexual, Hope, Johannesburg, Sebenzile Nkosi, Teacher | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

2013 Feb. 11: I almost wished

Posted on February 11, 2013 by inkanyiso2009

by Ntsiki Cassie Dlamini I almost wished I could start all over again. Go back to my first day and draw my first breath. To my early months and attempt my first steps. To my childhood era and make new … Continue reading →

Posted in African Queer Beauty, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Artists, Arts, As we are, Beauty, Before You, Black Lesbian, Black Lesbian Artists, I almost wished | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments