Category Archives: Creative Writing

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

Posted in Acceptance, Act, Acting, Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Art Activism, Art Activism in South Africa, Art Edutainment, Art for Humanity, Art Is A Human Right, Art is Queer, Art Solidarity, Art Therapy, Articles, Artists, Arts, As we are, Beauty, Before US, Before You, Black Lesbians, Black Queer & Gifted, Black Queer Artists, Blackness, Characters, Claiming, Collaborations, Collective, Commitment, Communication strategies, Community, Community based media, Community Mobilizing, Community organizing, Community outreach, Community work, Contributors, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative activist, creative artist, Creative writer, Creative Writing, Democracy, Description, Details, Discussion, Documentary, Education, Empowerment, Evidence, Experience, Expertise, Exploration, Exposure, Expression, Feelings, Freedom of being, Gender articulation, Gender expression, Gender naming, Homosexuality, Human Beings, Human Equity and Art (Heart), Human rights, Humiliation, Hurt, I am not the only one, I can't do it ALONE, I love photography, Identity, Inconsiderate, Independence, Insulted, Insults, Intellectualism, Interpretation, Intervention, Invisibility, Lebo Mashifane, Lesbian Youth, Liberation, Life, Life Stories, Lost Lives, Love, Love is a human right, Love is Queer, Loved, Lovely words, Memories, Memory, Moments in herstory, murdered, Muted, My body, Myths, Of Love and Loss, Open relationships, Opening remarks, Opinion, Organizations, Organizing, Our lives in the picture, Ownership of the self, Owning our bodies, Participation, Perception, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Privilege, Proud to be, Queer Power, Queer visibility, Queer Youth, question of history., Relationships, Respect & Recognition from our community, Response, revolution, Seeing difference, Self acceptance, Self love, She, Silence, South Africa, Townships, Uncategorized, Visual Activist in the classroom, Visual democracy, Visual Language, Visual narratives, Visual Power, Visual sense, Visual Voices, We Are You, We Care | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

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

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 17: Ack B(L)ACK aches

Self portraits © Zanele Muholi 2014/07/17 Where:  My bedroom/ studio @ Cite Des Arts in Paris Camera used: Canon 60D with zoom lens EF-S 28 – 135mm lens (gold) on Manfrotto MKC3-H01 No artificial light. 19h47 17/07/2014   19h44 17/07/2014 … Continue reading

Posted in "Scratching the surface", Another Approach Is Possible, Art Activism, 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, Before US, Black bodies, Black Bodies of Silence, Black skin whitelined, Black veil, Blackened, Brutal Killings of children, Captioned, Captured, Creating awareness, Creative Writing, Crime rate, Darkness, Dead-line, Education, Female being, Globa crisis, He(ART), He(Art)less, Hope, Human Beings, Human Equity and Art (Heart), Humiliation, Hurt, Hustling, Influenced, Knowledge, Laws and regulations, Legacies of Violence, Mourning, Muted, Ownership of the self, Peace, Photography, Politics, Politics of representation, Propaganda, Queercide, Racism, Rape(d), Self mutilation, Self portraits, tackling racism through art, Terms and conditions, Underground, Visual Language, Visual sense, When home is a crime scene, Women suffering, Xenophobia, zamumania | Leave a comment

2014 July 12: Being treated like a Queen in Durban

by Sfiso ‘Candice’ Nkosi It is Thurs. 26th June 2014, my friend, Precious Maqojana and I left for Durban Pride from Johannesburg Park Station at 22:00. We stopped in Montrose for some refreshments and a bathroom break. I was starting … Continue reading

Posted in 1987 -, 2013 Miss Simply Blue, 2014 Durban Pride, Acceptance, Act, Acting, Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Adoring, African, African Queer Beauty, Alternative family, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Art Is A Human Right, Art is Queer, Artists, Arts, Attention, Beautiful faces, Beauty, Beauty queens, Before You, Being Scene, Black bodies, Black lesbian activism, Black Lesbian Artists, Black lesbian visibility, Blackness, Body, Brave, Characters, Communication strategies, Community, Community Mobilizing, Community work, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative Writing, Culture of reading and writing, Details, Disappointment, Empowerment, Experience, Exposure, Expression, Feelings, Female Photographers, Friendships, From Tsakane to Durban, Gender, Gender naming, Grateful, Gratitude, Hobbies, Human Beings, I can't do it ALONE, I was (T)here, I-N-K-A-N-Y-I-S-O, Identity, Inkanyiso media, Inner feelings, Insulted, Interpretation, Issue of toilets for transwomen, Know Your SA Queer History, Knowledge, KwaZulu Natal, Memories, Modeling, Our lives in the picture, Participants, Participation, Photographs, Power of the Voice, Queens, Sbonelo Muholi, Society, Sponsored trip, Toilets, Transwomen, UkhoziFM, We Are You, We Care, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Women's power, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Words, Writing is a Right, Young Black Women and Photography, Zanele Muholi | Leave a comment

2014 May 26: I found myself at 22

  My name is Abongile Matyila. Abongile is a Xhosa name which means to be grateful. My uncle gave me that name. I’m a 22 year old Bachelor of Arts (BA) student studying at the University of Fort Hare, East London … Continue reading

Posted in Academic, Acceptance, Activists Act, Adoring, African Queer Beauty, Androgyny, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Art Activism in South Africa, Art Is A Human Right, As we are, Before You, Being Scene, Black Queer Born Frees in SA townships, Black Queer Professionals, Blackness, Body, Creating awareness, Creative writer, Creative Writing, Dress code, Eastern Cape, Empowerment, Exposure, Expression, Friendships, Gender naming, Homosexual, Homosexuality, Human Beings, Human rights, Independence, Know Your SA Queer History, LGBTI community, Life, Life Stories, Living by example, Our lives in the picture, Penetrating mainstream spaces, Photography, Portrait, Power of the Voice, Queer Youth, Recognition, Sexual orientation, Sexuality, Sharing knowledge, Translation, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Language, Visual Power, Visual Voices, We Are You, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Writing is a Right, Young talent, Youth voices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

2014 May 19: ‘Titleless’

“She won’t open up about anything that hurts so I’ve had to source alternative ways to understand the woman I love. She’s my calm, introverted soul who has mastered the persona of a swan – floats swiftly with grace and … Continue reading

Posted in Communication strategies, Complicated Lesbian Relationships, Connected souls, Contributors, Crea(c)tive senses, Creative Writing, Democracy, Details, Experience, Expression, Fear, Feelings, Hope, Human Beings, I can't do it ALONE, Intellectualism, it means never existed, Lesbian Love Is Possible in South Africa, Lesbian Youth, Love is a human right | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

2014 May 15: Shameless You

by Maureen Velile Majola In your search for Love In all the people who are loved Who are in stable relationships You’ve had to smile and laugh with their partners only to ease the guilt in your bitchy heart Everyone … Continue reading

Posted in Beauty, Black Queer & Gifted, Black Queer Artists, Creative Writing, Creativity, Readings, Sharing knowledge, South African Artists, Textualizing Our Own Lives, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Women who have sex with Women, Zulu is a South African language | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

2014 May 18: Behind the beautiful face you see is a lesbian who is torn into a million pieces

by Lebo Leptie Phume   Sitting in this taxi my eyes fill with tears from thinking about where I come from. Things were easy for me while my grandmother and my mother were alive, I never had to hustle because I got … Continue reading

Posted in Black & White, Black Lesbian soccer players in South Africa, Captioned, Creative Writing, Details, Expression, Faces & Phases portraits, Gender expression, History, Know Your SA Queer History, Knowledge, Our lives in the picture, Power of the Voice, Sharing knowledge, Sotho is a South African language, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Writing is a Right | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

2014 May 2: Photo of the night

Inkanyiso member on the left meeting our stars… Where: Joburg Theatre When: Sat. 2nd May 2014 Featuring who: L-R: Smanga Shange and a friend, Lebo Mashile and Pamella Nomvete. Photo by Zanele Muholi      

Posted in Activism, Activists Act, Artists, As we are, Creative Writing, Creativity, I can't do it ALONE, I was (T)here, Identity, Life Stories, Love, Love is a human right, Memory, Moments in herstory, Ndiyadansa actors, Our lives in the picture, Peace, Photo Expressions, Photography, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Recognition, Reflection, Relationships, South Africa, Together we can, Visual Power, We Are You, We Care, We Love Photography, We were (t)here, Women's power, Zanele Muholi | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2014 April 5: ‘Sifela i Ayikho’ photos

  L-R: Jelena Kuljic and Maureen Velile Majola at backstage before their performance at Studio 44, Constanza Macras in Berlin last night.      Jelena Kuljic about to sing “Senzeni na?”  Maureen Majola lit the candles and prayed hard… God … Continue reading

Posted in "We'll Show You You're a Woman”, 'We live in fear' by Zanele Muholi & HRW, Activists Act, Africans Abroad, Allies, Amnesty International on Inkanyiso, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Art Activism in South Africa, Art Edutainment, Art Is A Human Right, Art is Queer, Art Solidarity, Articles, As we are, Black Lesbians, Black Lesbians & Allies Against Hate Crimes, Black Queer & Gifted, Black Queer Artists, Blackness, Body, Body Politics, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative Writing, Curative rapes, Disappointment, Discomfort, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Emotional support, Empowerment, Erik Dettwiler, Experience, Exposure, Expression, Feelings, Female Photographers, Feminist Art, Films, Gender activist, Gender expression, Hate crimes Victims names, Human Beings, Human body, Human rights, Human Rights Watch, I can't do it ALONE, I was (T)here, Inconsiderate, Interpretation, Intervention, Jelena Kuljic, Knowledge, Lesbian Love Is Possible in South Africa, Life, Life Stories, Music, Penetrating mainstream spaces, Performance, Photo album, Political Art, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Queer Amnesty, Queer community, Queer poetics, Queer Power, Queer visibility, Recognition, Records and histories, Reflection, Relationships, Sexual orientation, Sharing knowledge, South African Artists, South African Black Female Photographers, South African Black Lesbian Filmmakers, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Visual Activist, Visual Power, We Are You, We Care, We Love Photography, We were (t)here, When Love is a Human Right, Women's Arts In South Africa (WAISA), Youth voices, Zanele Muholi | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments