Category Archives: Speaking for ourselves

2014 Jan. 29: South Africa’s New Mo(u)rning

   by Bridget Ngcobo What does it mean to be living in post apartheid South Africa? Does it mean, as the name of the generation alludes that we are (re)born free? Are our eyes open to the colors and sounds … Continue reading

Posted in Anger, Another Approach Is Possible, black LGBTIQA, Black Queer & Gifted, Body, Bridget Ngcobo, Collaborations, Community, Community Mobilizing, Community outreach, Contributors, Creating awareness, Cultural activists, Culture, Duduzile Zozo, Education, Emotional support, Hate Crimes, Love, Love is a human right, Our lives in the picture, Political Art, Politics of existence, Politics of geography, Politics of representation, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Professional black lesbians in South Africa, Public spaces, Queer texts, Queer visibility, Queer Youth, Questioning, Readings, ReClaim Your Activism, Records and histories, Reflection, Relationships, SA Constitution, Sharing knowledge, South African struggle, South African townships, Speaking for ourselves, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, 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, Women's power, Writing is a Right | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

2014 Jan.9: “Enforcing my existence!”

Edited by Fikile Mazambani AneIe Khaba is a young black woman, born in Heidelburg on the 30th of May 1992 and was raised in Springs, Kwa-Thema. She lived with her parents and would spend time at her grandmothers’ as well until 2012 when … Continue reading

Posted in 1992 -, Acceptance, Proud lesbian, South African townships, Speaking for ourselves, Textualizing Our Own Lives, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, Writing is a Right, Youth voices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

2014 Jan.5: Ishaya ngolunye unyawo I-VMCI kulonyaka

by Londeka Dlamini Ibandla lase Thekwini i-Victory Ministries International phansi kobuholi bukaMfundisi uZungu liza nezinguquko eziningi kulonyaka. Abazalwane babukeke bethokozile ukubuya enkonzweni kwazise bekuyiSonto lokuqala kulonyaka., iqale kamnandi lapho uMvangeli uMkhize ekhuthaza ibandla ngokuthi asikhohlwe ngokwenzekile ngonyaka odlule. Siqale kabusha kulonyaka … Continue reading

Posted in Acceptance, Archived memories, Archiving Queer Her/Histories in SA, As we are, Black Queer & Gifted, Church is not the closet, Commitment, Community, Creating awareness, Creative Writing, Durban, Experience, Exposure, Expression, Feelings, God Fearing people, God's will, Gratitude, History, Holy Spirit, Inner feelings, Knowledge, Language, Lord, Lord is the Christ, Love, Love is a human right, Memory, Networking, Participants, Power of the Voice, Queer God fearing community, Reflection, Relationships, Religion, Speaking for ourselves, Textualizing Our Own Lives, We Are You, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

2014 Jan.9: Brenda Mvula’s Memorial Service

Brenda Mvula’s partner, Koketso Matlaweng in black mourning the sudden passing of her beloved supported by her aunt in a black & white top. Where:   Acts of God Christian Church, Midrand. When:  9th Jan. 2014 Photos by Lindeka Qampi … Continue reading

Posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Black Lesbian Losing A Partner, Cultural activists, Health, Life, Life Stories, Lindeka Qampi, Love, Love is a human right, Media works, Memory, Obituary, Our lives in the picture, Participants, Penetrating mainstream spaces, Photo album, Photo Expressions, Photography, Politics of existence, Portrait, Power of the Voice, Prayer, Praying, Privilege, Professionals, Proud lesbian, Queer visibility, Recognition, Records and histories, Reflection, Sharing knowledge, South Africa, South African Black Female Photographers, Speaking for ourselves, Visual history, 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, Women's Arts In South Africa (WAISA), Women's struggles, Women's Work, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Zanele Muholi | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

2013 Dec. 24: Through Artwork We Shall Succeed

PORTFOLIO I by Ayanda Zulu The late Mr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela will forever be remembered (2013) I am honored to be amongst the artists who took time and passion to do a painting of one of the most respected icons … Continue reading

Posted in Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Freelance artist, Knowledge, Language, Our lives in the picture, Queer Youth, Sharing knowledge, SignWriting, South Africa, South African art, South African Artists, South African townships, Speaking for ourselves, Visual Arts, Visual Language, Visual Power, We Are You, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Writing is a Right | 4 Comments

2013 Dec. 15: Photos from the funeral of the recently murdered lesbian in Ratanda

Who: Maleshwane Emely Radebe Identity: Black Lesbian Born : 25th Aug. 1977 Murdered on: 7th Dec. 2013 Buried on: 14th Dec. 2013 Buried Where : Ekuthuleni Graveyard, Ext. 23 Residence: Ratanda, Johannesburg. South Africa What: Sustained a stab wound and … Continue reading

Posted in Coffin carriers, Collaborations, Collective, Crime rate, Interpretation, Intervention, Isililo, Knowledge, Lesbian Love Is Possible in South Africa, Lessons learnt, Life, Life Stories, Love, Love is a human right, Memory, Mourning, Our lives in the picture, Penetrating mainstream spaces, Photo album, Power of the Voice, Public spaces, Queer visibility, Questioning, Questions & Answers, Readings, ReClaim Your Activism, Recognition, Scriptures, Sharing knowledge, Silent voices, South African struggle, South African townships, Speaking for ourselves, Survivor, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Power, Visualizing public spaces, We Are You, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Where & Who is Justice?, Women's struggles, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Writing is a Right | Tagged | 28 Comments

2013 Dec. 6: IDEA dialogue on strategies of activism with Southern African activists

International IDEA (Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) 2013: Africa Programme at the Workshop on “Strategies to overcome Political Exclusion-Lessons from Southern Africa” held in Pretoria, South Africa. by Jeremiah Sepotokele The International IDEA (Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) … Continue reading

Posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Collective, Community outreach, Contributors, Creating awareness, Creative activist, Democracy, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Empowerment, English, Facilitation, History, Human rights, Human Rights Watch, I was (T)here, Inkanyiso media, Institution, Intervention, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Presentations, Pretoria, Reflection, Relationships, Reports, Sharing knowledge, South Africa, Speaking for ourselves, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Video clips, Visual Arts, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Power, Visualizing public spaces, Writing is a Right | Tagged | 2 Comments

2013 Dec. 8: Well organised beauty pageant with less audience

2013 Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto pageant   by Lerato Dumse   The Miss Gay and Lesbian Soweto pageant is an idea born in the year 2000 and was turned into an annual event, until 2006. Then the strain of using … Continue reading

Posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Arts, As we are, Before You, Being Scene, Black Queer & Gifted, Blackness, Body, Body Politics, Characters, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Cultural activists, Democracy, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Emotional support, Empowerment, Entertainment, Friendships, Gender expression, Gender performance, Homosexuality, Lack of Resources, Lack of sponsorship, Lessons learnt, Life, Life Stories, Love, Love is a human right, Media works, Our lives in the picture, Participants, Photo album, Photography, Queer Education in SA, Queer Edutainment, Queer visibility, Queer Youth, Queercide, Questions & Answers, ReClaim Your Activism, Recognition, Records and histories, Relationships, Sharing knowledge, Society, South Africa, South African Black Female Photographers, South African townships, Soweto, Soweto Theatre, 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, Visualizing public spaces, We Are You, We Care, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, Women's power, Writing is a Right, Youth voices | Tagged | 1 Comment

2013 Dec. 1: Words

  Words aren’t easy to come out Words have a deeper meaning than we think Never back down when you tell it I found myself with a trick of telling the words Words have a deeper meaning than we think … Continue reading

Posted in Black Lesbians, Black Lesbians & Allies Against Hate Crimes, Black Queer & Gifted, Books, English, Relationships, Sharing knowledge, Speaking for ourselves, Visual Language, Visual Power, Visualizing public spaces, We Are You, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, Women's power, Writing is a Right, Youth voices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

2013 Nov. 10: I can never forget

by Maureen Velile Majola   That night you made me stay up so you can pour out your heart When you reminded me of all my mistakes When the age gap played it significant role again The reminder The constant … Continue reading

Posted in Active Black Lesbian Artists in South Africa (ABASA), Activism, Anger, Art Activism in South Africa, Art Edutainment, Art Is A Human Right, As we are, Beauty, Before You, Bitch, Insults, Life, Life Stories, Love, Love is a human right, Memory, Power of the Arts, Power of the Voice, Queer poetics, Questioning, Relationships, Silence, South Africa, Speaking for ourselves, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Undermined, We Are You, We Care, Women who have sex with Women, Women's power, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Writing is a Right, Youth voices | Tagged | 1 Comment