Category Archives: I was (T)here

2016 Oct. 20: Time wasted is never regained

  “Sheshisa isikhathi siya hamba” those words were spoken by our parents when we were preparing to go to school. Those words never mattered to us when we were young because we didn’t know what was at stake. We took … Continue reading

Posted in "Sheshisa isikhathi siya hamba" by Sicka Shaz Mthunzi, 'Sicka' Sharon Mthunzi, Comfortable, Faces and Phases (2006 - ), Facing You, Family support, Feelings, Friends, Friendships, Gender Identity, Gratitude, Homosexuality, Human Beings, Human rights, I love photography, I was (T)here, If not documented it means never existed, Intention, Know Your SA Queer History, Knowledge, Lessons learnt, LGBTI community, LGBTI issues, Lifetime, Memories, Moments, Named, Open conversations, Oppression, Participation, Politics of existence, Politics of representation, Power of the Voice, Privilege, Queer Power, Reality, Seeing difference, Self recognition, South Africa, Subjects, Survived, Texts, Time, Togetherness, Uncategorized, Vision, Visual activism is a language, We are beautiful, We are capable, We Are You, We believe in Arts, We Care, We love each other, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Work matters, Writing is A Right, Writing our own, Youth voices | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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 June 28: My 2015 Durban June Pride

by Tinashe Wakapila It was a very wonderful day on the 26th of June. The reason for my joy is because it was a day before pride. I had visitors who travelled from other provinces. They are friends that I … Continue reading

Posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Claiming blackness, Claiming mainstream spaces, Confidence, Creating awareness, Documenting our own lives, Durban, Expression, I was (T)here, Ownership of the self, Owning our bodies, Photo Expressions, Power of the Voice, Scripted, South Africa, Texts, Textualizing Our Own Lives, We Are You, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, Writing is a Right, Writing matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

2015 Mar.3: A Letter to my Mother

by Sicka ‘Shaz’ Mthunzi Imbokodo is what she is, a mother that I love and respect more than anything in the world. She has the strength of 10 men and a heart full of life and love. She is my … Continue reading

Posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Creating awareness, Existence, Experience, Exploration, Exposure, Expression, Facilitation, Facing You, Faith, Families and Friends, Family, Homosexuality, Human Beings, Human rights, I Am, I am Somebody, I love photography, I was (T)here, Knowledge, Power of the Voice, Powerful, Queer visibility, question of history., Reality, Realization, Recognition, Recording, Records and histories, Reflections, Relationships, relative, Representation, Representing, Respect, Respect & Recognition from our community, Response, revolution, Self love, Self portraits, Self recognition, Sexual orientation, Sexuality, Sharing, Sharing information, Sharing knowledge, Sharing thoughts, Social responsibility, South Africa, Speaking for ourselves, Stories, Strength, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Together we can, Togetherness, Touch, Touching, Treasure, Voice, Warmth, We Are You, We Care, We love each other, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Writing is a Right, Writing matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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 Dec. 14: The kiss that moved the church

© Photo by Charmain Carrol @ VMCI – Johannesburg Camera used:  Canon 60D with 75-300 mm lens   What: Bathini Dambuza & Portia Dludlu’s engagement ceremony Union blessed by Pastor Mazibuko       “I always prayed to get married … Continue reading

Posted in Allies, Alternative career choices, Alternative family, Announcement, Another Approach Is Possible, Apology, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Arguments, Art Is A Human Right, Art is Queer, Articles, Articulation, Attention, Audience, Background, Beautiful, Beautiful faces, Beautiful people, Beauty, Before US, Before You, Begging, Being conscientized, Being seen, Black Bodies of Silence, Black lesbian beauty, Black Lesbian Icons in South Africa, Blackness, Blessings, Bodies, Bodies and histories, Body, Bonding, Brave, Bringing photography to the community, Captioned, Captured, Caring citizens, Categories, Celebrating Women, Celebration, Challenges of black lesbian youth, Characters, Choice, Citizenship, Civil Union, Claiming, Collaborations, Collective, Comfort, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Documenting our own lives, Documenting realities of the townships, Dress code, Dress sense, Embodies, Emotional support, Empowerment, Encounter, Endurance, English, Entertainment, Evidence, Excitement, Experience, Expertise, Exploration, Exposure, Expression, Eyes, Face, Facilitation, Facing You, Facts, Families and Friends, Family, Family and Friends, Fashion, Featuring, Feelings, Female being, Frank, Freedom, Friends, Friendships, Function, I use CANON, I was (T)here, Identity, Perception, SA Constitution, SA LGBTI experts, Self love, Self recognition, Sexual Liberation, Sexual orientation, Sexuality, Sexuality in South Africa, Sharing, Sharing knowledge, Silence, Silent voices, Social responsibility, Society, South Africa, South African Black Female Photographers, South African lesbians, South African politics, South African struggle, South African traditions, South African Visible Arts, South African visual history through the eyes of young women, Space, Speaking for ourselves, Special event, Statement, Subject of Art, Support is the system, Supporting each other, Survived, Teaching young women photography, Tears, Terrified, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Thankful, Thoughts, Time, Visual Arts, Visual democracy, Visual diaries, Visual historical initiative, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual narratives, Visual Power, Visual sense, Visual Voices, Warmth, We Are You, We Care, We love each other, We love photographs, We Love Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

2014 Nov. 24: My love story

by Tsepo Kgatlhane I’m okay, but I know I will be better with love. From what I remember, I can’t pass knowing that I have always been celebrated. I have always been best friends with the finer things in life. … Continue reading

Posted in Articulation, As we are, Attention, Background, Beautiful, Black Queer & Gifted, Dedication, Elegance, Emotional support, Experience, I am Somebody, I was (T)here, Love is Queer, Loved, Lovely words | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 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