Category Archives: Readings

2014 Sept. 30: Nature pains

(Isilumo the phasing) by Christie van Zyl   This month I let my period pain again But my periods are annoying me Just a note to you Godperson that created us My periods come with nausea, headaches & hectic emotional … Continue reading

Posted in Article, Body, Diet, Eggs, Food, painful periods, Period pains, Poverty, Power of the Voice, Readings, Reason, Recognition, Records and histories, Sexuality, Sharing, She, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Togetherness, Touch, Trust, unused eggs, Visibility, Visual history, Visual narratives, 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, Woman, Womanhood, Women loving women, Women suffering, Women's power, Women's Work, Womenonwomen, Womyn, Words, Writing is a Right, Young talent, young women, Youth, Youth voices | 2 Comments

2014 Sept. 28: An emotional farewell for the recent victim of hate crime

Text by Lerato Dumse Photos by Lindeka Qampi and Zanele Muholi   It is a Sunday morning and like in most townships, the streets of Daveyton township are a buzz of activity. Many carry bibles, making their way to different churches. In … Continue reading

Posted in "We'll Show You You're a Woman”, 'We live in fear', 1986-2014, 20 Years of Democracy, 20 Years of Democracy in SA, Activism, An emotional farewell for Lihle, Article, Brutal murders of black lesbians in SA, Daveyton, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Documenting hate crimes, Documenting our own lives, Documenting realities of the townships, Farewell, Funeral, Gender Equality, Gender expression, Gender naming, Hate crime, Hate Crimes, Hate crimes Victims names, He(ART), Human rights, Humiliation, Hurt, Identity, If not documented, In memory of Lihle Sokhela, Independence, Influenced, Inkanyiso media, Institution, Intellectualism, Interpretation, Intervention, Interviews, Invisibility, Issues, Jealousy, Know Your SA Queer History, Knowledge, Lack of Resources, Language, Learning, Legacies of Violence, Lerato Dumse, Lesbian Love Is Possible in South Africa, Lesbian Youth, Lessons learnt, LGBT community, lgbti, LGBTI community, Liberation, Life, Life is a production..., Life Stories, Lihle Sokhela, Lindeka Qampi, Lindeka Qampi sharing her PhotoXP experience to Valerie Thomas, Living, Loss of parents, Loss to the black lesbian community, Lost Lives, Love, Love is Queer, Loved, Lovely words, lover, Loving, Mainstream media, Mainstreaming our queer issues, Mally Simelane, Memories, Memory, Moments in herstory, Moments in our history, Motivation, Mourning, Murder suspect, murdered, Networking, Open relationships, Organizations, Organizing, Our lives in the picture, Ownership of the self, Owning our bodies, Participants, Penetrating mainstream spaces, Perception, Photo album, Photo Expressions, photographers, Photographs, Photographs from the funeral, Photography, Photography as a therapy, Politics of existence, Politics of geography, Politics of representation, Power of the Voice, Previous life stories, Privilege, Professional black lesbians in South Africa, Proud lesbian, Queer & Straights, Queer Africa, Queer Africans speaking for themselves., Queer Power, Queer South Africa, Queer texts, Queer visibility, Queer Youth, queerity, Questioning, Questions and Answers, Readings, ReClaim Your Activism, Recognition, recognized, Records and histories, Reflections, Relationships, Religion, South Africa, South African Council of Churches, Supportive friends and families, Survived by aunts and brothers, Survived by..., Survivor, Teaching, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Together we can, Togetherness, Townships, Unemployment, Uthingo - The Rainbow, Victim of hate crime, Victims, videographers, Videography, Violence, Visibility, Vision, Visual activism, Visual activism is a language, Visual Activist, We Care, We love photographs, 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, Womenonwomen, Words, Writing from court, Young Women and Visual Activism, Youth, Youth voices, Zanele Muholi, Zulu is a language | 5 Comments

2014 Aug. 30: I’m a game changer, leader and activist

  My name is Lesiba Mothibe also known as Lee. I was born on the 5 August 1984 in BBH (hospital’s name) now known as Tambo Memorial Hospital. I’m the first born and have two siblings a brother and sister. … Continue reading

Posted in Abantu, Activism, Activists Act, Allies, 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, Arts, As we are, Beauty, Beauty pageants, Before You, Black Queer & Gifted, Collaborations, Collectivism, Community, Community Mobilizing, Connections, Contributors, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative Writing, Cultural activists, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Education, Emotional support, Empowerment, Evidence, Experience, Exposure, Expression, Family, Feelings, Friendships, Gender naming, Homosexuality, Hope, Human rights, Interpretation, Know Your SA Queer History, Knowledge, Lack of Resources, Lesiba Mothibe, Life, Life Stories, Love, Love is a human right, Media works, Networking, Our lives in the picture, Photography, Politics of existence, Portrait, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Queer visibility, Readings, ReClaim Your Activism, Recognition, Records and histories, Reflection, Relationships, revolution, Sharing knowledge, South Africa, Speaking for ourselves, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Together we can, Townships, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Language, Visual Power, Visual Voices, Visualizing public spaces, We Are You, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, When Love is a Human Right, Writing is a Right, Youth voices | 10 Comments

2014 Aug. 30: Insightful analysis from the guest speaker

 by Lebo Mashifane On August 29, 2014, Lindeka Qampi, Zanele Muholi, Martha Qumba and myself visited Aurora Girls High School in Zola One, Soweto. It’s a school where Lindeka and Zanele are busy tutoring photography to some learners after school … Continue reading

Posted in Activism, Activists Act, Allies, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Art Activism in South Africa, Art Edutainment, Art Solidarity, Articles, Arts, As we are, Before You, Black Queer & Gifted, Collaborations, Collectivism, Community, Community Mobilizing, Connections, Contributors, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative Writing, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Education, Emotional support, Empowerment, Evidence, Experience, Exposure, Expression, Feelings, Friendships, Hope, Human rights, Inkanyiso media, Interpretation, Johannesburg, Knowledge, Lack of Resources, Life, Life Stories, Love, Media works, Networking, Our lives in the picture, Photo album, Photography, Politics of existence, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Readings, ReClaim Your Activism, Recognition, Records and histories, Relationships, revolution, Sharing knowledge, South Africa, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Together we can, Townships, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Language, Visual Power, Visual Voices, Visualizing public spaces, We Are You, We Care, 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, Writing is a Right, Youth voices | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

2014 Aug. 23: Relatives and friends shed tears at Gift’s funeral and some fainted

Text by Lerato Dumse Photos by Lindeka Qampi When the casket carrying the body of Disebo Gift Makau (23), was lowered six feet underground at a Ventersdorp cemetery, in the North West, on August 23.     Family and friends … Continue reading

Posted in 'We live in fear', Act, Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Allies, Alternative career choices, Anger, Another Approach Is Possible, Art Is A Human Right, Art is Queer, Articles, Articulation, As we are, Attention, Audience, Awareness workshops, Before US, Before You, Being Scene, Black, Black bodies, Black Bodies of Silence, Black Lesbian, Black lesbian activism, Black Lesbian Love, Black lesbian mothers, Black Lesbian professionals, Black lesbian visibility, Black Lesbians, Black Lesbians & Allies Against Hate Crimes, Black lesbians in remote areas in South Africa, Black Queer Born Frees, Black Queer Born Frees in SA townships, Black Queer Born Frees in South Africa, Body, Body Politics, Commemorating the queer youth we lost along the way, Comments from the audience, Commitment, Committed, Community, Community Mobilizing, Community outreach, Community work, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Crying, Feelings, Female being, Female masculinity, Female Photographers, friend, Friendships, Gender articulation, Gender Based Violence (GBV)., Gender distinction, Gender expression, Gender naming, Heroes of our struggle, Homosexuality, Human Beings, Human body, I can't do it ALONE, I love photography, I was (T)here, I was here, Identity, Inkanyiso media, Insulted, Interpretation, Intervention, Interviews, Invisibility, Politics of existence, Queer community, Queer Power, Queer texts, Queer visibility, Readings, Reason, ReClaim Your Activism, Records and histories, Relationships, Religion, Respect, Sexual Liberation, Sexual minorities, Sexual orientation, Sexuality, Sexuality in South Africa, Sharing, Sharing knowledge, Sharing thoughts, South Africa, South African rural areas, the writers, Townships, Victims, Violence, Vision, Visual activism, Visual activism is a language, Visual Activist, Visual democracy, 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 home is a crime scene, When Love is a Human Right | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

2014 Aug. 22: Photos from Disebo Gift Makau’s Memorial Service

by Lindeka Qampi & Zanele Muholi Where: Stadium Hall, Ext. 2. VentersdorpCamera used:  Canon 6D with different lenses                                             … Continue reading

Posted in 'We live in fear', 'We live in fear' by Zanele Muholi & HRW, 20 Years of Democracy, Act, Action; Referee, Active Black Lesbian Artists in South Africa (ABASA), Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Adoring, 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, Articles, Articulation, Before US, Black bodies, Black Bodies of Silence, Black Lesbian, Black lesbian activism, Black Lesbian Love, Black lesbian visibility, Black Lesbians, Black Lesbians & Allies Against Hate Crimes, Black Queer & Gifted, Claiming mainstream spaces, Collaborations, Collective, Collectivism, Comment, Comments from the audience, Commitment, Committed, Communication strategies, Community, Community based media, Community Mobilizing, Community organizing, Community outreach, Community work, Complicated Lesbian Relationships, Confrontation, Corruption, question of history., Questioning, Questions & Answers, Readings, Reason, ReClaim Your Activism, Recognition, recognized, Records and histories, Rumours, Self recognition, Self-worth, Sexual orientation, Sexuality, Sexuality in South Africa, Silence, Social documentary photography, Social responsibility, Solidarity, South African Black Female Photographers, South African politics, South African struggle, South African townships, South African Visible Arts, South African Visual Activism, South African Youth, Speaking for ourselves, Struggling, Supporters, Supporting each other, Supportive mother, Survived by..., Textualizing Our Own Lives, Togetherness, Victim of hate crime in Ventersdorp, 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, We Are You, We Care, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, When home is a crime scene, When Love is a Human Right, Where & Who is Justice?, Women loving women, Women suffering, Women who have sex with Women, Women's power, Women's struggles, Women's Work, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Words, Writing is a Right, young women | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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

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. 11: My experiences of Paris, Mpumalanga and Durban Gay Pride

by Luh Cele My perseverance and the love of the game once upon a time resulted in a progressive life of meeting interesting people and travel abroad. In this note I’d like to share share my lifetime experiences, of pride marches … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 Paris Pride, Acceptance, Act, Acting, Activism, Activists, African, Africanised, Africans Abroad, Allies, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Arguments, Articulation, Arts & Sports, As we are, Audience, Beautiful faces, Blessings, Claiming blackness, Claiming mainstream spaces, Clear with own plan, Collaborations, Collective, Collectivism, Comments from the audience, Committed, Community, Community based media, Contests, Corruption, Creating awareness, Democracy, Demonstration, Details, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Documenting our own lives, Documenting realities of the townships, Durban Pride march, Education, Emotional support, Empowerment, Event, Evidence, Experience, Expertise, Exploration, Exposure, Expression, Facing You, First Mpumalanga Pride, Gender, Gender activist, Gender articulation, He(ART), Health bodies, Health matters, History, homonormativity, Homophobia, I am not the only one, I can't do it ALONE, I love photography, Identity, Intellectualism, Interpretation, Intervention, Queer visibility, question of history., Rainbow flag, Readers, Readings, Real, ReClaim Your Activism, Recognition, recognized, Teaching, Teaching young women photography, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Together we can, Togetherness, Townships, videographers, Visibility, Vision, Visual activism, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, When Love is a Human Right, Women loving women, Women's power, Writing is a Right | Tagged , | 4 Comments

2014 Aug. 8: To be honest I love how I look

My name is Katiso Kgope, and I was born on September 18, in 1995. I was born in Glen Wood hospital, Benoni my parents are Mandla Kgope and the late Mpho Kgope – Monyake. I was given the name of … Continue reading

Posted in "Scratching the surface", 1995 -, 20 Years of Democracy, Acceptance, Act, Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Adoring, Alternative career choices, Another Approach Is Possible, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, Art Activism, Articles, Articulation, Attention, Baring, Beautiful faces, Beauty, Beauty pageantry, Beauty queens, Before You, Being conscientized, Being Scene, Birthdate, Black, Black bodies, Black Queer & Gifted, Black Queer Born Frees, Black Queer Born Frees in SA townships, Blackness, Body, Body Politics, Cameras, Celebrating Youth Month in SA, Chains, Characters, Claiming, Claiming blackness, Claiming mainstream spaces, Collectivism, Comfort, Comments from the audience, Committed, Communication strategies, Community, Community Mobilizing, Community outreach, Daveyton, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Documenting our own lives, Education, Emotional support, Empowerment, English, Evidence, Exchanging Queer thoughts, Experience, Exploration, Exposure, Expression, Eyes, Facing You, Family, Family and Friends, Fashion, Feelings, Female being, Finances, Friendships, Gender articulation, God is with us, God's will, He(ART), Honesty, Human rights, Humiliation, I was (T)here, Identity, Interpretation, Interviews, Katiso Kgope, Know Your SA Queer History, Knowledge, Language, Lessons learnt, Liberation, Life, Life Stories, Living by example, Love, Love is a human right, Loved, Lovely words, Media works, Memories, Modeling, Moments in herstory, New York, No artificiality, Opinion, Ownership of the self, Owning our bodies, Perception, Photography, Photography as a therapy, Platform, Politics of existence, Politics of representation, Portrait, Power of the Voice, Privilege, Proud to be, Queer visibility, Queer Youth, Questioning, Questions & Answers, Readers, Readings, Reason, Recognition, recognized, Respect, Respect & Recognition from our community, Response, Seeing difference, Self acceptance, Self discovery, Self love, Self-worth, Sharing knowledge, Sharing thoughts, She, South Africa, South African townships, South African Visual Activism, South African Youth, Speaking for ourselves, Special event, Studying, Style, Stylish, Support, Talented, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Together we can, Togetherness, trans bodies, Trans Youth, Transgender visibility, Transgender Voices, Transgenderism in Africa, Transwoman, Visual activism is a language, Visual Activist, Visual democracy, Visual history, 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 photographs, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Womanhood, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Words, Writing is a Right, Youth voices, Zanele Muholi, Zulu is a South African language | 3 Comments

2014 Aug.1: InterGenerational conversation with current and future stars

by Lerato Dumse Seizing opportunities was the central message shared with more than 15 teenage girls at Aurora Girls High School, in Soweto on 1st August 2014. The girls are part of the Siyafundisana Photo XP, a photography training project founded … Continue reading

Posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Art Edutainment, Art for Humanity, Art Is A Human Right, Art Solidarity, Art Therapy, Articulation, Artist Talk, As we are, Aurora Girls High School, Before You, Documenting our own lives, Elisa Pica, Future, Group photo, Group photo with the stars, Honors degree, Lerato Dumse, Lindeka Qampi, Mbali Vilakazi, Mfundi Vundla of Generations, Nonkululeko Britton-Masekela, Our lives in the picture, Ownership of the self, Owning our bodies, Penetrating mainstream spaces, Photo Expressions, Photography, Phumla Masuku, Politics of existence, Portrait, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Presentations, Privilege, Professionals, Proud to be, Public spaces, Queer Beauty Pageants in the townships, Queer Power, Queer visibility, question of history., Questions & Answers, Readings, Reason, ReClaim Your Activism, Respect & Recognition from our community, Respected person, Soapie, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Thobza Zwane, Together we can, Togetherness, Townships, Transcription, Visibility, Vision, Visual activism, Visual Activist in the classroom, Visual Arts, Visual democracy, Visual history, 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, When Love is a Human Right, Women's Arts In South Africa (WAISA), Women's power, Women's struggles, Women's Work, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Womenonwomen, Words, Years, Young black female photographers, Young Black Women and Photography, Young Women and Visual Activism, Youth voices, Zanele Muholi, Zulu is a language | 8 Comments