Category Archives: Visual diaries

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 7: For I love a Femme woman

I love and adore your femininity Take me I’m yours for Eternity The way you seduce me, the Intensity The way you sway those hips and rock those heels, the sexiness in it A love I can’t avoid its inevitable My … Continue reading

Posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Description, Empowerment, Faces and Phases participant, Family, Feelings, Gender expression, Hope, Human Beings, Incredible, Influenced, Person, Pleased, Power of the Voice, Powerful, Privilege, Proud lesbian, Proud to be, Queer Power, Queer visibility, Readings, Reason, Recognition, Related links, Relationships, Statement, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Thankful, Together we can, Togetherness, Translation, Unique, Visibility, 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 our lives, Visualizing public spaces, Voice, We are beautiful, We Are You, We believe in Arts, We Still Can with/out Resources, We were (t)here, What black lesbian youth wants, When Faces meet, When Love is a Human Right, Woman, Women's power, Women's struggles, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures, Words, Worked for us, Writing is a Right, Writing matters, Yithi Laba conference, Young talent, young women, Youth, Youth voices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2015 March 24: LGBTIQs of Kayamandi attended the book launch

by Nondi Vokwana The group was invited to attend Faces and Phases (2006-14) book launch by Zanele Muholi held at the University of Cape Town, African Gender Institute on March 24, 2015. Thirteen group members  from the Silubala Safe Space, Kayamandi, … Continue reading

Posted in Black Lesbian Icons in South Africa, Black lesbian visibility, Freedom, Freedom of being, FreeGender, Gender Equality, Gender expression, Networking, Organizations, Our lives in the picture, Participants, Participation, Reality, Reason, Recognition, recognized, South African politics, South African struggle, Stories, Visions, Visual activism, Visual activism is a language, Visual Activist, Visual Activist in the classroom, Visual democracy, Visual diaries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2015 March 21: Threesome of experts

Self-timed moments with Renee Mussai and Lerato Dumse. Location:  Islington, London When:  South African celebrated and commemorated Human Rights Day. Camera used:  Canon 6D on H304 manfrotto tripod at 10 sec. each photo. Sharing thoughts after brunch. Between the photographer … Continue reading

Posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Expression, Power of the Voice, Visual diaries, Visual narratives, Visual Power, We Are You, We Care, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2015 March 4: Four nights before International Women’s Day

What:  ZaVa series in progress. Where: Belleville, Paris     Previous link 2014 Nov. 11: The Artivist and the Doctor

Posted in Lesbian couple, Lesbian kiss, Lessons learnt, Life, Life lived, Life partner, Photography, Photography as a therapy, queerness, question of history., Questioning, Sexual Liberation, Support, Support is the system, Visual activism, Visual activism is a language, Visual Activist, Visual democracy, Visual diaries, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual narratives, Visual Power, Visual power by ordinary people, Voice | 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

2015 Feb. 10: Another round for Norway

by Lerato Dumse Lillestrøm, Norway, is how successful South African photographer/artivist, Zanele Muholi, kicks off her traveling schedule for the year 2015. Apart from on-going shows such as her Midsumma exhibition in Australia, titled Visual Activism. Black and White portraits from her lifetime project, Faces … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 Outstanding International Alumni Award, Akershus Art Centre, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Art Solidarity, Articles, Beautiful faces, Beauty, Creating awareness, Democracy, Expression, From Johannesburg to Oslo, Inkanyiso media, Life Stories, Liva Mork, Mr Lesbian Daveyton, Nonkululeko “Sicka” Mthunzi, Norway, Power of the Voice, Queer texts, Queer visibility, Queer Youth, Rikke Komissar, South Africa, tackling racism through art, Talented, Tor Arne Samuelsen, Visibility, Vision, Visual activism is a language, Visual Activist, Visual Arts, Visual democracy, Visual diaries, Visual historical initiative, We Are You, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, Writing is a Right | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

2015 Jan. 5: An ally shares her perspective

Book Review When I started reading the book I had already received a review from my cousin. At first it was hard not to look and read it using the glasses that she provided. My wish was to read it … Continue reading

Posted in 20 Years of Democracy in SA, 8 years, Academics, Act, Acting, Activism, Activists, Activists Act, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Art Is A Human Right, Art is Queer, Art Solidarity, Article, Articles, Articulation, As we are, Author, Background, Beautiful faces, Beautiful people, Before You, Being, Being conscientized, Being heard, Black & White, Black bodies, Black lesbian activism, Black Lesbian Love, Black lesbian visibility, Book, Book Review, Community education, Community outreach, Consideration, Education, Faces and Phases (2006-14), Freedom, Loved, Magnitude, Motshidisi Mabalane, Oppression, Previous links, Protecting, Published by Steidl, Reviewers, She, Speaking for ourselves, Statement, Success, Supporting each other, Texts, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Time, Timing, together, Together we can, Togetherness, Visual Arts, Visual democracy, Visual diaries, Visual historical initiative, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visual Language, Visual Power, Visual sense, Visual Voices, Visualizing our lives, Visualizing public spaces, Visuals, We Are You, We Care, We love each other, We love photographs, We Love Photography, Womyn, Words, Writing is a Right | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2015 Jan. 3: I dropped out of the closet many times

“It is a story about my coming out, its more significant than any part of my life history” Being who I am should not compromise who you are. The road to coming out was not easy. I was born in … Continue reading

Posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Beatings, Creating awareness, Expression, Eyes, Face, Faces & Phases portraits, Faces and Phases (2006 - 2014), Gratitude, Gratitude to my lover, Inner feelings, Insulted, Interaction, Interpretation, Intervention, Irritation, Issues of sexuality, Knowledge, Language, Lesbian, Lessons learnt, Life, Life is a production..., Life lived, Life Stories, Life story, Live, Living, Living by example, Longing, Look at me, Loss to the black lesbian community, Lost Lives, Love is a human right, Love is Queer, Loved, Lovely words, Mainstream media, Mainstream spaces, Mainstreaming our queer issues, Making a mark, Memories, Moments, Moments in herstory, My body, My life in short, Nasty, Nature, Participants, Participation, Patience, Personification, Photo Expressions, Pleased, Political space, Politics of existence, Portraiture series, Power of the Voice, Powerful, Presentations, Pressure, Previous life stories, Privilege, Proud lesbian, Proud to be, Queer & Straights, Queer Africans speaking for themselves., Queer Power, Queer visibility, Queer Zimbabwe, Questions, Questions and Answers, Readers, Readings, Real, Reality, Realization, Reason, ReClaim Your Activism, Recognition, recognized, Recognizing the problem, Recording, Records and histories, Reflection, Reflections, Related links, Relationship, Relationship with own body, Relationships, relative, Relatives, Remembering, Reminiscing, Report, Representation, Representing, Resentments, Respect, Respect & Recognition from our community, Respected person, Response, Reviews, Reviving the culture of reading and writing, revolution, Rumours, safe, Scared, Scripted, Scriptures, Sexual orientation, Sexuality, Sharing, Sharing knowledge, Silence, Smile, Solidarity, Solution, South Africa, South African Black Female Photographers, South African townships, Speaking for ourselves, Statement, Straights, Struggles, Struggling, Suffered, Supporters, Supporting each other, Supportive friends and families, Survived, Teachings, Tears, Texts, Textualizing Our Own Lives, Thankful, Time, Timing, together, Together we can, Togetherness, Touching, Transformation, Transparency, Trust, Tshona is a Zimbabwean language, violation of rights, Violence, Visibility, Vision, Visual activism, Visual activism is a language, 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 our lives, Visualizing public spaces, Visuals, We Are You, We Care, We love photographs, We Love Photography, We Still Can with/out Resources, Weeping, When home is a crime scene, When Love is a Human Right, Where & Who is Justice?, Writing is a Right, Zimbabwe | 22 Comments

2014 Dec. 13: Faces and Phases invokes memories

Book Review by Kopano Sibeko “I used to be lesbian, but now my final words are on a tombstone, because he showed me the power of a man. I could never love that, so I killed myself because I knew … Continue reading

Posted in A new visual history, Beyond SA borders, Claiming mainstream spaces, Claiming the public spaces, Collaborations, Comfort, Comments from the audience, Commitment, Committed, Communication strategies, Community, Community based media, Community education, Community Mobilizing, Community organizing, Community outreach, Community work, Confession, Confrontation, Connected souls, Connections, Consent, Contests, Conversation, courage, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Creative Writing, Creativity, Cultural activists, Culture, Culture of reading and writing, Details, Difference, Different positions, discourse, Discussion, Diversity, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Documenting our own lives, Documenting realities of the townships, Embodies, Emotional support, Empowerment, Encounter, Endurance, Freedom, Individuals, Lesbian Love Is Possible in South Africa, Lesbianism, Lessons learnt, Life Stories, Mainstreaming our queer issues, Making a mark, Media works, Personification, Political injustices, Politics of existence, Politics of geography, Professionals, Publications, Recording, relative, Remembering, Report, Representation, Sexuality in South Africa, Sharing, Sharing knowledge, Sharing thoughts, Struggles, Support, Support is the system, Supporting each other, Supportive friends and families, Teachings, Transgenderism, Transphobia, Victimisation, Visual Activist, Visual Arts, Visual democracy, Visual diaries, Visual historical initiative | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments