Category Archives: I was here

2015 July 10: How it all started

by Sharon “Sicka” Mthunzi It all started with a ‘selfie’ captured using my cell phone. I remember I used to look in the mirror with a phone on my left hand, and take pictures of myself. Before the birth of … Continue reading

Posted in Being, being loved, Bringing photography to the community, Commitment, Faces and Phases participant, hip-hop artist, Hope, Human Beings, I use CANON, I was (T)here, I was here, Life, Life is a production..., Life lived, Mamela Nyamza, Moments, Mr Les Daveyton 2013, Patience, Portraits of the Self, Portraiture series, Positive images, Power of the Voice, Powerful, Public spaces, Queer visibility, question of history., Re-presentation, Readings, Realities, Reality, Recognition, Recording, Reflections, Relationships, Remembering, Reminiscing, Representation, Respect, Respected person, Responsibility, revolution, Sameness, Scripted, Self, Self discovery, Self love, Self portraits, Self recognition, Self-worth, Sexual Liberation, Sexual orientation, Sexuality, Sharing, Sharing information, Sharing knowledge, Sharing thoughts, Silent voices, So much love, Solidarity, Solution, South Africa, South African townships, South African visual history through the eyes of young women, Speaking for ourselves, Statement, Strength, Supporting each other, Survived, Texts, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Together we can, Togetherness, Touching, Treasure, Trust, Understanding, Unique, Vision, Visual activism, Visual Arts, Visual democracy, Visual diaries, We Are You, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, Young Women and Visual Activism, Youth voices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2015 Feb. 13: From Johannesburg to Oslo

Photo Album by Nontuthuzelo Mduba, Themba Vilakazi and Zanele Muholi   2015 Feb. 10:  Shaz aka “Sicka Starban” Mthunzi was lucky enough to be accompanied by her family to the airport. Her mother is standing on the far left (wearing … Continue reading

Posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Arguments, Art Activism, Art is Queer, Art Therapy, Articulation, As we are, Background, Beautiful faces, Beauty, Before You, Being, Being conscientized, Being heard, Being seen, Black Lesbian Love, Bodies and histories, Body, Brave, Bringing photography to the community, Brotherhood, Captioned, Captured, Caring citizens, Creating awareness, Expenses, Expression, For peace sake, Friends, Friendships, From Johannesburg to Oslo, Gender Equality, Gender expression, Gender naming, Give, Gratitude, Happiness, Happy, Hardships, He(ART), Homosexuality, Honesty, Hope, Human Beings, Human rights, I am not the only one, I am Somebody, I can't do it ALONE, I love my brothers, I love photography, I use CANON, I was (T)here, I was here, I-N-K-A-N-Y-I-S-O, Important, Incredible, Independence, Individuals, Influenced, Inkanyiso media, Inner feelings, Innocent, Interaction, Interpretation, Interviews, Intimate, Introductions, Issues, Issues of sexuality, Key issues, Knowledge, Lack of Resources, Language, Laughter, Layout, Legacies of Existence, Legacy, Lesbian Love Is Possible in South Africa, Let us give a girl child a chance, Life, Life is a production..., Like to travel, Mobility, Photographs, Photography, Photography as a therapy, Power of the Voice, Queer Power, queerity, question of history., Questioning, Sharing information, Shaz Sicka Starban Mthunzi, South Africa, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Thankful, The Chroniclers, The cost of travel, Time, Together we can, Togetherness, Touch, Touching, Understanding, Videography, Visibility, Vision, Visual activism, Visual Arts, Visual democracy, Visual diaries, We Are You, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, Work, Writing is a Right | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

2014 Dec. 28: Javas & Mashadi’s pre wedding lunch

Where:  Mike’s Kitchen in Alberton With who:  Inkanyiso crew & Friends Camera used:  Canon 600D     Sisters with style… lead by Zandile Makhubu in front with blue top… Our lovely couple, Javas & Mashadi Ndlovu to get married in … Continue reading

Posted in Acceptance, Activists, Activists Act, Alternative family, Announcement, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Arguments, Art Is A Human Right, Art is Queer, Articles, Articulation, As we are, Attention, Background, Baring, Beautiful, Beautiful faces, Beauty, Before You, Being, Being conscientized, Black lesbian visibility, Black Lesbians, Black Queer & Gifted, Bodies, Body Politics, Bringing photography to the community, Came out of the closet, Captioned, Captured, Caring for our female youth, Celebration, Citizenship, Claiming, Claiming mainstream spaces, Claiming the public spaces, Collaborations, Collective, Collectivism, Commemoration, Comment, Commitment, Committed, Community education, Community Mobilizing, Community organizing, Community outreach, Confession, Connected souls, Connections, Consent, Consideration, Contributors, Conversation, Corruption, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative Writing, Creativity, Cultural activists, Culture of reading and writing, Daring, Dedication, Democracy, Description, Despair, Details, Difference, Different positions, Dignity, disappearance, Disappointment, Discomfort, discourse, Divergence, Diversity, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Documenting hate crimes, Documenting realities of the townships, Dress sense, Edited, Education, Elegance, Emotional support, Empowerment, Evidence, Exhibition, Existence, Expertise, Exploration, Exposure, Expression, Facing You, Faith, Families, Families and Friends, Featuring, Feelings, Female Photographers, Freedom, Freedom of being, Freedom to be..., Friends, Gender activist, Gender articulation, Gender expression, Gender naming, Gift, Gratitude, Hardships, Human rights, Humiliation, I am not the only one, I am Somebody, I can't do it ALONE, I love photography, I use CANON, I was (T)here, I was here, Identity, Ignorance, Important, Inconsiderate, Incredible, Independence, Individuals, Influenced, Javas Joyce Ndlovu featuring in Faces and Phases, Javas Ndlovu & partner Mashadi, Lebo Mashifane, Longing, Love, Love is a human right, Love is Queer, Loved, Lovely words, Loving, Lunch with friends to wish the couple well, Mainstreaming our queer issues, Making a mark, Media works, Memory, Moments, Moments in herstory, Motivation, My body, Naming, New challenge, Supporting each other, We Are You, We love each other, We love photographs, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Wishing, Wishing you well, Witnesses, Womanhood, Women's power, Words, Work, Worked for us, Writing is a Right | Leave a comment

2014 Dec. 24: If things were going my way

Lebo Leptie Phume & Zanele Muholi interviewed some special friends about their Christmas wishes. I grew up celebrating Christmas because that’s what everyone was doing and it’s not like I had a choice not to celebrate it. Even though I … Continue reading

Posted in A new visual history, Abantu, Acceptance, Act, Acting, Articles, Articulation, Arts, Arts & Culture, As we are, Attention, Baring, Beautiful, Beautiful people, Beauty, Before US, Before You, Begging, Being, Being conscientized, Being heard, Black Queer & Gifted, Blackness, Bodies and histories, Captioned, Captured, Caring citizens, Celebration, Challenging the un-African homosexuality, Characters, Christmas wishes, Citizenship, Claiming, Collective, Collectivism, Comfort, Comment, Community, Connected souls, Connections, Consideration, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative Writing, Cultural activists, Daring, Dedication, Delegation, Different positions, Edited, Education, Emotional support, Empowerment, Evidence, Excitement, Existence, Experience, Expertise, Exploration, Exposure, Expression, Facing You, Facts, Families, Families and Friends, Family support, Fantasy, Favourite, Featuring, Feelings, Festive season, Freedom, Freedom of being, Friends, Friendships, Give, Gratitude, Happiness, He(ART), History, Homosexuality, Honesty, Hope, Human Beings, I almost wished, I am not the only one, I am Somebody, I can't do it ALONE, I was (T)here, I was here, Imagined, Incredible, Independence, Individuals, Influenced, Inner feelings, Know Your SA Queer History, Knowledge, Language, Lebo Phume, Legacies of Existence, Lessons learnt, LGBT community, Liberation, Life, Life is a production..., Life lived, Life Stories, Live, Living, Living by example, Longing, Love, Love is a human right, Love is Queer, Loved, Lovers, Loving, Mainstreaming our queer issues, Memories, Mind, Mission, Moments, Moments in our history, Motivation, Naming, Patience, Perception, Power of the Voice, Powerful, Privilege, Queer Power, Queer South Africa, Queer texts, Queer visibility, Questions, Real, Reality, Reason, Recognition, recognized, Recording, Reflections, Relationship, Relationships, Remembering, Respected person, Respondents, Self-worth, Sexuality, Sexuality in South Africa, Sharing, Sharing knowledge, Sharing thoughts, Success, Visibility, Vision, Visual Power, Visual sense, Visual Voices, Visualizing public spaces, We Are You, We Care, We love each other, We Still Can with/out Resources, Wishing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

2014 Oct. 29: “I always avoided fights”

by Vania Cruz I’ve always known that I’m different from the person standing next to me, unique and intelligent. Lend me your brains not your ears because I want to paint my picture on it. My name is Vania Cruz … Continue reading

Posted in Birthdate, Birthday, I was (T)here, I was here, Identity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

2014 Oct. 16: The lawyer in the classroom

Report by Lerato Dumse & Zanele Muholi Photos by Thobe Gumede         Where:  Aurora Girls High School, SOWETO What:  2014 PhotoXP – Guest speaking Mpho Nefuri was our guest speaker of the day, she addressed the young … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 Cape Town Month of Photography, 2014 Photo XP, About PhotoXP, Act, Acting, Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Advocacy, Allies, Alternative family, Announcement, Another Approach Is Possible, Art Activism, Art Edutainment, Article, Articles, Articulation, Attention, Aurora Girls High School, Background, Beautiful faces, Bringing photography to the community, Cameras, Captioned, Captured, Career, Caring citizens, Celebrating Women, Celebration, Characters, Citizenship, Claiming, Claiming mainstream spaces, Class, Collaborations, Collective, Collectivism, Comments from the audience, Commitment, Committed, Communication strategies, Community education, Community Mobilizing, Community work, Connected souls, Consideration, Conversation, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Democracy, Details, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Documenting our own lives, Documenting realities of the townships, Education, Emotional support, Empowerment, Evidence, Experience, Exposure, Expression, Eyes, Facing You, Faith, Family, Feelings, Friends, Friendships, Gender activist, Health bodies, Hope, Human rights, I am not the only one, I am Somebody, I can't do it ALONE, I love photography, I was (T)here, I was here, Ignorance, Interpretation, Intervention, Introduction, Lawyers in the classroom, Learning, Let us give a girl child a chance, Life, Life is a production..., Life Stories, Linda Mankazana, Lindeka Qampi, Living, Love, Love is a human right, Love is Queer, Lovely words, Mainstream media, Media works, Memory, My body, Organizing, Peers, Perception, Photos by Thobe Gumede, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Presentation, Relationships, Remembering, Report, Respect, revolution, the attorney, We Are You | 1 Comment

2014 Oct. 17: SA Fashion Week photo of the night

 

Posted in 20 Years of Democracy in SA, 2014 SA Fashion Week, Abantu, Act, Acting, Activists Act, Affair, Allies, Ally & Toya DaLezy, Another Approach Is Possible, Art Activism, Art Activism in South Africa, Article, Articles, Articulation, Artists, Arts, Arts & Culture, As we are, Attention, Beautiful, Beautiful faces, Beautiful people, Before US, Before You, Black Queer & Gifted, Blackness, Bringing photography to the community, Captioned, Captured, Caring citizens, Celebrating Women, Celebration, Characters, Citizenship, Claiming mainstream spaces, Class, Consideration, Conversation, Creating awareness, Culture of reading and writing, Dress sense, Emotional support, Empowerment, Event, Evidence, Excitement, Experience, Exploration, Expression, Fashion, Fashionista, Feelings, Female Photographers, Friends, Friendships, Gender articulation, Gender expression, He(ART), Health bodies, Honesty, Hope, Human Beings, Human rights, I can't do it ALONE, I was (T)here, I was here, Interpretation, Intervention, Knowledge, Label, Life, Life story, Living, Love, Love is a human right, Love is Queer, Loved, Mainstream media, Photographs, Photography, Photography as a therapy, Platform, Politics of existence, Politics of representation, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Pride, Privilege, Proud to be, Race, Recognition, Reflections, Relationships, relative, Self-worth, Sexual orientation, Sexuality in South Africa, Sharing knowledge, Sharing thoughts, She, South Africa, Speaking for ourselves, Statement, Style, Time, Together we can, Togetherness, Touch, Visibility, Vision, Visual Activist, Visual Arts, Visual diaries, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Language, Visual Power, Visual sense, Visual Voices, Visualizing public spaces, Visuals, We Are You, We Care, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Well organized event, When Love is a Human Right | Leave a comment

2014 Oct. 15: Dignified funeral for LGBTI and HIV activist

by Lerato Dumse Kind, compassionate, diligent and loving are some of the words used by speakers, to describe Musa Williams (47). How he performed his duties at work, and his activism fighting for the rights of LGBTI and HIV positive … Continue reading

Posted in 1967 - 2014, 20 Years of Democracy, Acceptance, Acceptance speeches, Act, Activism, Activists, Advocacy, Allies, Alternative family, Article by Lerato Dumse, Before US, Before You, Black, Body, Bonding, Bringing photography to the community, Career, Caring citizens, Celebration, Challenging the un-African homosexuality, Characters, Chief mourner, Claiming, Claiming blackness, Claiming mainstream spaces, Coffin, Collaborations, Collectivism, Commemoration, Confession, Connected souls, Connections, Consideration, Contributors, Conversation, Counseling sessions, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Cultural activists, Death, Delegation, Democracy, Description, Dignity, Discomfort, Discussion, Education, Ekurhuleni East Counsellors, Elegance, Emotional support, Empowerment, English, EPOC lgbti, EPOC on Inkanyiso, Evidence, Exchanging Queer thoughts, Experience, Expertise, Exploration, Exposure, Expression, Facilitators, Families and Friends, Family, Family loss, Family support, Farewell, Fashion, Female Photographers, Friendships, Funeral costs, Future, Gay, Gender distinction, Gender expression, Generations, Gratitude, He(ART), Healing, Health, Health bodies, Health matters, Heartbreak, HIV activist, Human rights, Hurt, I am not the only one, I am Somebody, I can't do it ALONE, I love photography, I use CANON, I was (T)here, I was here, I-N-K-A-N-Y-I-S-O, Ignorance, Inkanyiso media, KwaThema, LGBTI losing another informed activist, Life lived, Members of NAPWA, Musa Williams funeral, Not a hate crime death, Pain, Pastor Tebogo Moema, Photos by Lindeka Qampi and Zanele Muholi, Questioning, Questions & Answers, Real, Reason, Recognition, recognized, Records and histories, Supporters, Supporting each other, Supportive friends and families, Warmth, We Are You, We Care, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We were (t)here, Well organized funeral, Women's power, Words, Writing is a Right, Years | Leave a comment

2014 Oct. 13: Mother of the recently murdered lesbian demands justice

Text by Lerato Dumse Photos by Zanele Muholi  A suspect is due to appear in the Tsakane Magistrate Court today (October 14), in connection with the fatal stabbing of Phumzile Nkosi (27) on October 2, 2014.   Pastor Dlamini led … Continue reading

Posted in 'We live in fear', 20 Years of Democracy in SA, a black lesbian, Abantu, Acceptance, Activists, Addiction, African, African Queer Beauty, Alternative family, an LGBTI organisation, Anger, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Art Activism, Articles, Articulation, Attention, Audience, Background, Beautiful, Beautiful faces, Beautiful people, Beauty, Before US, Before You, Begging, Being conscientized, Bereavement, Betrayal, Black bodies, Black Bodies of Silence, Black Lesbian, Black lesbian activism, Black Lesbian mother, Black lesbian murder, Black Lesbians, Black Queer Born Frees in South Africa, Bleeding, Body Politics, Brutal murders of black lesbians in SA, Brutality, Church is not the closet, Claiming, Claiming blackness, Claiming mainstream spaces, Coffin, Corruption, Court appearance, Creating awareness, Crime, Crime rate, Crimes, Daveyton Uthingo, EPOC lgbti, Evidence, Facilitation, Facilitators, Facing abuse and violation, Families and Friends, Family loss, Family support, Feelings, Friendships, Funeral, Gauteng, Gender articulation, Gender Based Violence (GBV)., Gender expression, Generations, Hate Crimes, Heroes of our struggle, Homosexuality, Honesty, Human Beings, Human rights, Humiliation, I can't do it ALONE, I was (T)here, I was here, I-N-K-A-N-Y-I-S-O, Inconsiderate, Independence, Johannesburg, Killer is another woman, Language, Legacies of Violence, Lerato Dumse, Lesbian Love Is Possible in South Africa, Mourning love, Songs of Freedom, South Africa, Stabbed to death, Tears, Tsakane, Violent crime, We Are You, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, What black lesbian youth wants, When home is a crime scene, When Love is a Human Right, young women, Young Women and Visual Activism, Youth, Youth voices | 4 Comments

2014 Oct. 8: Beautiful faces and kisses from Soweto Pride 2014

                                                                                … Continue reading

Posted in 10th Soweto Pride, 20 Years of Democracy, Acceptance, Acceptance speeches, Act, Acting, Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Adoring, After party, Allies, Alternative career choices, Alternative family, an LGBTI organisation, Anger, Announcement, 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, Art is Queer, Art Solidarity, Art Therapy, Article, Articles, Articulation, Artist Talk, Artists, Arts, As we are, Attention, Awareness workshops, Background, Baring, Before US, Before You, Begging, Being conscientized, Black Lesbian Love, Black lesbian mothers, Black lesbian visibility, Black lesbians in remote areas in South Africa, black LGBTIQA, Black Queer & Gifted, Black Queer Artists, Black Queer Born Frees, Black Queer Born Frees in SA townships, Body, Cameras, Captioned, Captured, Caring citizens, Celebrating Women, Celebration, Challenging the un-African homosexuality, Characters, Charismatic, Citizenship, Claiming, Claiming blackness, Claiming mainstream spaces, Collaborations, Collective, Collectivism, Comfort, Comment, Comments from the audience, Commitment, Committed, Communication strategies, Community, Community based media, Community education, Community Mobilizing, Community organizing, Community outreach, Community work, Complicated Lesbian Relationships, Confrontation, Connected souls, Connections, Consideration, Contestants, Contests, Contributors, Conversation, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative Writing, Creativity, Cultural activists, cultural worker, Culture, Culture of reading and writing, Delegation, Democracy, Demonstration, Details, Different positions, Dignity, disappearance, discourse, Discussion, Documentary, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Documenting our own lives, Documenting realities of the townships, Dress sense, Dyke, Edited, Education, Emotional support, Empowerment, Evidence, Exchanging Queer thoughts, Excitement, Experience, Expertise, Exploration, Expression, Facilitators, Facing You, Feelings, Female Photographers, Food, Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW), Freedom of being, Friendships, Future, Gender articulation, Gender Equality, Gender expression, Gender naming, Gender performance, Generations, Give children cameras not candies, Give credits where it is due, God Fearing people, Gratitude, Gratitude to my lover, Hate crimes Victims names, History, Human Beings, Human rights, I can't do it ALONE, I love photography, I use CANON, I was (T)here, I was here, I-N-K-A-N-Y-I-S-O, Identity, Independence, Influenced, Inkanyiso crew, Interpretation, Intervention, Interviews, Invisibility, Issues, Kiss, Know Your SA Queer History, Knowledge, Lack of Resources, Language, Legacies of Violence, Lesbian Professionals, Lesbian Youth, Lesbianism, Lessons learnt, Let us give a girl child a chance, LGBT community, LGBT rights activist, LGBTI community, lgbti issues in South Africa, LGBTIs in Africa, Life, Living, Lost Lives, Love, Love is a human right, Love is Queer, Loved, Lovely words, lover, Loving, Luxury, Mainstream media, Mainstreaming our queer issues, Matters of the He(Art), Media works, Memories, Moments in herstory, Moments in our history, Motivation, My body, Networking, Open relationships, Opening remarks, Our lives in the picture, Our Zulu Pride, Queer poetics, Queer Power, Queer South Africa, Queer texts, Queer visibility, Queer Youth, queerity, question of history., Questioning, Questions & Answers, Reflection, Reflections, Related links, Relationship, Relationship with own body, Relationships, relative, Remembering, Respect, Respect & Recognition from our community, Respected person, Response, Reviving the culture of reading and writing, revolution, Sadness, Safety, South African Visual Activism, Speaking for ourselves, Stage, Statement, Struggle Songs, Struggling, Struggling activist, Style, Subject of Art, Support, Supporters, Supporting each other, Supportive friends and families, Teaching young women photography, Tears, together, Together we can, Togetherness, Touch, Townships, Translation, Trust, Visual Arts, Visual democracy, Visual diaries, Visual historical initiative, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Language, Visual narratives, Visual Power, Visual sense, Visual Voices, Visualizing public spaces, Warmth, We Are You, We Care, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Well organized event, What black lesbian youth wants, When Love is a Human Right, Wishing you well, Women loving women, Women who have sex with Women, Women's power, Women's Pride, Women's struggles, Women's Work, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Womenonwomen, Womyn, Words, Writing is a Right, Years, Young black female photographers, Young Black Women and Photography, Young female photographers from Aurora, Young talent, young women, Young Women and Visual Activism, Youth, Youth voices | 10 Comments