Category Archives: I was (T)here

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 20: Wet Pride in Paris

Posted on July 20, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

by Lindeka Qampi 28/06/2014                                                                         … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 Paris Pride, Activists, Africans Abroad, Another Approach Is Possible, Artists, Arts, As we are, asylum seekers, Came out of the closet, Cameras, Committed, Communication strategies, Community based media, Community Mobilizing, Community outreach, Connected souls, Connections, Contributors, Crea(c)tive senses, Crying, Cultural activists, Culture of reading and writing, Darkness, Dating, Demonstration, Description, Details, Different positions, Disappointment, Discomfort, discourse, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Documenting realities of the townships, Drag queens, Dress code, Edited, editors, Education, Emotional support, Empowerment, English and French, Event, Evidence, Exchanging Queer thoughts, Experience, Expertise, Exposure, Expression, Facilitators, Facing You, Faith, Family, Family and Friends, Fantasy, Fear, Feelings, Food, French-South Connections, Gay, Gender expression, Gender naming, God is with us, Grateful, Gratitude, Gratitude to my lover, He(Art)less, Health bodies, Hearts, Heroes of our struggle, homonormativity, Homophobia, homophobic, Homosexual, Homosexuality, Human Beings, Human Equity and Art (Heart), Human rights, Hurt, I am not the only one, I can't do it ALONE, I love photography, I was (T)here, I-N-K-A-N-Y-I-S-O, Independence, Inkanyiso crew, Inkanyiso media, Inner feelings, Intellectualism, Intervention, Invisibility, Know Your SA Queer History, Knowledge, Mixed audiences, Organizing, Paris, Privilege, Proud to be, Public spaces, Public toilets, Queer Africans speaking for themselves., Queer Edutainment, Queer Power, Queer visibility, question of history., Readings, Real, Reason, ReClaim Your Activism, recognized, Records and histories, Reflection, Relationship with own body, Respect & Recognition from our community, Respected person, Response, Self acceptance, Self love, Self recognition, Sexual minorities, Sexual orientation, Sexuality, Sharing knowledge, Speaking for ourselves, Subject of Art, Supporters, Supporting each other, Together we can, Togetherness, TUK Paris, Visual activism, Visual activism is a language | Leave a comment

2014 July 12: Being treated like a Queen in Durban

Posted on July 16, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

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 2: Photo of the night

Posted on May 5, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

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 March 30: “A woman I’m going to marry”

Posted on April 18, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

by Buli Vimbelela On the 30th of March 2014 a crowd of people gathered in Zola, Soweto to witness Promise Mavundla and Sanele Shabangu’s umqomiswano (engagement), a gathering which many were unsure of, but had piqued their interest nonetheless. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Gender performance, I can't do it ALONE, I was (T)here, Love, Love is a human right, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Relationships, Textualizing Our Own Lives, We Are You, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

2014 April 5: ‘Sifela i Ayikho’ photos

Posted on April 6, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

  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

2014 March 21: The critical work of a critic

Posted on April 1, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

The task of a writer engaging with the work of artists and activists is an important one. The critic does not only draw attention to the work of particular people but provides a way for readers and viewers to translate … Continue reading →

Posted in Activists Act, African, African Queer Beauty, Allies, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Art Is A Human Right, Art Solidarity, As we are, Beauty, Being Scene, Experience, Exposure, Expression, Feelings, Female Photographers, Freedom of being, Friendships, Homophobia, Human rights, I was (T)here, Identity, Inconsiderate, Independence, LGBTI community, Life, Relationships, Sexual Liberation, Sexual minorities, Sexual orientation, Sharing knowledge, Short bio, Society, South Africa, Speaking for ourselves, Survivor, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Visual Activist, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Language, Visual Power, Visual Voices, We Are You, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, When Love is a Human Right, Women's Arts In South Africa (WAISA), Women's power, Women's struggles, Writing is a Right, Youth voices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2014 March 28: What we did is history now

Posted on March 27, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

      © Zanele Muholi Where:  San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge Country:  United States Featuring:  Selaelo ‘Sly’ Mannya and Valerie Thomas When:  14th March 2014 Camera used:  Canon 6D with 85mm lens. f stop: 2.8 How: The photos were … Continue reading →

Posted in Connections, Contributors, Evidence, Experience, Exposure, Family, Feelings, Gratitude, Human Beings, I can't do it ALONE, I was (T)here, Knowledge, Love, Love is a human right, Media works, Networking, Open relationships, Our lives in the picture, Performance, Photography, Politics of representation, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Proud lesbian, Queer Power, Queer visibility, Recognition, Records and histories, Reflection, Relationships, Sharing knowledge, Speaking for ourselves, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Visual Power, Visualizing public spaces, We Are You, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, Zanele Muholi | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

2013 Feb. 1: Maybe it was not meant to be!

Posted on February 5, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

by Charmain Carrol I am back from Europe and am reflecting on all the things I did, people I met, and what a wonderful and productive time I had.  But I cannot stop thinking about how this trip almost never … Continue reading →

Posted in Dejected, Expression, I can't do it ALONE, I was (T)here, Identity, Independence, Inkanyiso crew, Know Your SA Queer History, Knowledge, Lack of Resources, Lack of sponsorship, Life, Living by example, Organizations, Politics of existence, Politics of geography, Power of the Voice, Presentations, Proud lesbian, Recognition, Records and histories, Reflection, Respect & Recognition from our community, Reviews, Sexual minorities, Sharing knowledge, Socio-economic, Speaking for ourselves, Struggling activist, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Visualizing public spaces, We Are You, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Women's power, Women's struggles, Women's Work, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Writing is a Right | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2014 Jan.12: Presenting Gavin Matseke… The queer we all love to hate!!!

Posted on January 27, 2014 by inkanyiso2009

Profiled by Jeremiah Sepotokele The day is finally here, having scheduled an interview with the gorgeous and witty Gavin Matseke. We met at the calm, cool and tranquil outdoors of Glen Austin, in Midrand at a friend’s place. We were … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Gay Graduates in SA, Black Queer & Gifted, Contributors, Evidence, Experience, Exposure, Expression, I can't do it ALONE, I was (T)here, Jeremiah Sepotokele, Know Your SA Queer History, Knowledge, Politics of existence, Queer Education in SA, Sexual orientation, Visual Language, Visual Power | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment