Back row in a green blazer, Lebogang Magaela from Twatwa was crowned Mr Gay Daveyton and runner-ups were Nontuthuzelo Mduba (1st prince) and Sphiwe Mbatha (2nd Prince).
Front row: Nhlanhla ‘Fiona’ Thabatha from Duduza was crowned Miss Gay Daveyton, and Thabo Mathengwa (1st princess) and Kiddo Zitha (2nd princess).
Photo by Collen Mfazwe

by Lesego Tlhwale

The Rhoo Hlatswayo Arts Centre in Daveyton was a buzz on Saturday, 14^th September 2013, as the LGBTI community came in numbers to watch gays and lesbians competing for the title of Mr & Miss Gay Daveyton.

Glitz and glamour were the order of the night as the LGBTI youth of Daveyton flocked the community centre to cheer for their favorite contestants. The prestigious event was organized by Uthingo which is headed by Lesiba Mothibe, who is the mastermind behind the pageant and a reigning queen. Lesiba was crowned Miss Gay Valentine (2003), which was the first pageant of its sort to be hosted in Daveyton.

Xoli Lewinski the MC at the event kept the crowd entertained with her wit and impeccable sense of humor.  The pageant fanatic also enjoyed performances by local dance groups and the fabulous Miss Ellah from Simply Blue left the crowd in awe with her melodic voice.

The pageant went on and contestants showed off in their creative wear, swimsuits and evening wear. However, the seemingly successful event took a turn when the contestants took part in a general knowledge session, where they were asked LGBTI related questions.

If the pageant was a national or international event, the South African LGBTI community would have been left red-faced with embarrassment by the level of knowledge the youth of South Africa has about LGBTI history.

Most of the contestants could not answer simple direct questions about issues that affect them on a daily basis. “Thank you for the question, but I don’t know the answer”, was one of the many startling answers from the contestants.

The lack of knowledge regarding ‘queer literacy’ within the LGBTI youth of South Africa is an issue not to be ignored.

If our local pageant winners are going to represent their communities in national Mr & Miss Gay pageants, they need to up their game and inform themselves with adequate knowledge.  Beauty alone will not pull them through to victory.

Nonetheless, Nhlanhla ‘Fiona’ Thabatha from Duduza was crowned Miss Gay Daveyton, and Thabo Mathengwa became (1^st princess) and Kiddo Zitha (2^nd princess).

Lebogang Magaela from Twatwa was crowned Mr Gay Daveyton and her runner-ups were Nontuthuzelo Mduba (1^st prince) and Sphiwe Mbatha (2^nd Prince).

The overall contestants…

Previous by Lesego

Queer spots pointed for our first Johannesburg People’s Pride

and


2013 Aug. 6: Invisibility of black lesbians ‘From safe harbours to Equality’

and

…

by Charmain Carrol

Today marks exactly a year and seventeen (17) days since Mandisa Mbambo was laid to rest in iNanda Township, Durban in KwaZulu Natal. One might wonder what the relevance of this information is and if it is of any use in people’s lives.

This incident is significant to me particularly because I am an out lesbian woman, and to read that Mandisa was found in her backroom naked, beaten up, her hands and feet tied up under a pile of clothing. It was also assumed that she might have been raped, all because she was an openly out butch lesbian. This really hit home and it hit hard.

Isolezwe newspaper clipping featuring Mandisa Mbambo’s murder.
Issued on 3rd Sept. 2012

Mandisa Mbambo was born on the 15th October 1978, now this means she was born just a year later after I was born. I cannot begin to imagine myself dying because of my sexuality. I mean being a lesbian is the only thing that I know how to be and that’s just who I am.

My lesbian sexuality comes after me being just a human being.
A human being who deserves to live like any other person on earth, with the same rights.  I deserve respect just like Mandisa deserved to live. She did not deserve to die in any cruel manner that she did.

According to ISolezwe newspaper, amongst the people who attended her funeral was Legislature Deputy Speaker Mtholephi Mthimkhulu, who said “the killing of Mandisa was immoral and uncalled for” he also said that “she had a right to be a lesbian”

Those were profound words which we all want to believe as lesbians but cannot live a day pass them, because they are nothing but ink on paper.  The text scripted on our SA Constitution which declares that same sex loving individuals have the right to be who they are, they have a right to life and not to be discriminated against. It is evident that the SA Constitution is not as effective as it should be.  A thought constantly comes up in my head if what the legislature deputy said still echoes at the back of someone else’s.

Next year mark 20 Years of Democracy in South Africa.
I always question myself, what this mean for me as a black lesbian mother who lives in the township?
If the constitution failed Mandisa and all the other hate crime victims, what’s to become of me? What’s to become of all of us who are condemned to be sinners and ‘un-African’ only because we love people of the same sex.
Does this mean we should continue to live in fear?
Does this mean we also incite and inflict pain on our fellow brothers before they do it to us?

One should not blame such atrocious behaviours to be the SA governments fault.  I will also not deprive myself from enjoying my Freedom because I fear the slightest sight of a man. Am I to fear my brother, my father, my uncle?
Do I tell my daughter not to ever trust men?
I am not comfortable with  living in paranoia because it is unhealthy and unnecessary.
The question remains, who is to blame for this ill behaviour, if not the government?
If not me for walking late on the streets and if not the perpetrators because they were merely ‘correcting’ what they perceive to be (in)correct?
Who is to blame?

Two words: dysfunctional families!
I believe that as a country we lack values, we have lost respect for one another, and poverty has lost the value and the meaning of life.  Our family systems are broken and all those are the social imperfections of this country.  We also can’t justify the act of murder on that, yes truth is the flaws  are there, visible for everyone to see.  What change are we making?
What ideas are we instilling on our children as parents, educators and members of society?

Being a lesbian did not make Mandisa less human, because she had friends, she had a family and she probably had a partner, if that’s not human enough than what constitutes humanity?
She touched many lives.

I spoke to Ramazan Ngobese who attended the funeral and actually appeared in the Isolezwe newspaper dated the 3 September 2012 carrying Mandisa’s body into the hall.

She says:” I don’t want to lie and says I revisited the family, I did not. There was no follow up what so ever, the thing with us lesbians we are not united. We get so hyped up in marching and protesting. There’s no one else to blame but ourselves.”

Rama continued to say “until we bring our Pride Marches to the townships in the community that we live in, we will have no change.  Hosting Gay Pride in the City of Durban did not make sense for me because all the rapes and brutal murders of the lesbians and gays are happening in the townships. Maybe it’s lack of understanding of who we are in the communities.
If we had Pride marches in the townships where families have queer children. A queer child the families they don’t understand will then see that there are others like him or her.”

Ngobese also pointed out that there is discrimination amongst lesbians themselves.  She continued and said, “there are still a lot of rapes that are not reported because we as butch lesbian are afraid.
The shame of being ridiculed as to how can you say you are a man and be raped?
We are men to our wives and girlfriends. Sonke siyakwazi lokho, but to everyone else we are just women who need to be taught a lesson. This is something serious and painful and nothing to make fun of.”

In conclusion Ngobese said “ we need to unite and let God into our lives. Bring Gay Pride to our communities and we will make a change in that way. Unkulunkulu angeke ayekele izingane zakhe zifele emanyaleni.”

According to Sam Khanyile who said last year that, “I have not moved from my home, I still live in the same community Mandisa lived in. We need to do awareness drives in the community so they know we exist. We are Christians, we are sisters, we are aunts, we are mothers, and we too have mothers.

Moving from my neighbourhood will not change anything.
Khanyile who was also one of Mandisa’s coffin carriers has since moved from the neighbourhood but stated that it was not because of what had happened to Mandisa but she needed to be close to work.

She also expressed deep concern and guilt that she had not been to see the family, but is planning to go back to iNanda to do a candle light ceremony for all the Queer people who were brutally murdered and raped in that township.

Khanyile was not sure whether an unveiling had been done for Mandisa.

NB:  ***Please note that we will report on the outcome of Mandisa Mbambo’s murder case of Aug. 2012.

Previous by Charmain

2013 July 31: No title

and

2013 June 28: So What Is This?


and

2013 June 26: S/he is a Bleeding Man


and

2013 Feb. 8: “Let your voices be heard”


and

2013 Feb. 12: Mo(u)rning in the morning


and

2013 March 8: Affirmation – I Am A Lesbian


and


2013 Feb. 8: Mo(u)rning the loss …

All photos by Najib Nafib (6th Sept. 2013)
Where:  Amsterdam
What: fo(u)nd opening

Special thanks to Prince Claus Fund for making the exhibition possible.

For further reading click here

Palesa profiled by Kopano

Palesa Mkhwebane is a beauty with a brain. The aspiring entrepreneur tells me of her future plans as we chit chat.  She ponders and says “I didn’t know I was going to go to university, as I thought going to university was for the rich”.  It’s now a ridiculous thought as she laughs and adds that she honestly thought that to be true until she got access to information around that.

After she matriculated, she took a gap year as she figured out her options.  The gap year came as a blessing to her as she got the opportunity to work with school children at the request of her former teacher.
“I got good results in matric and my teacher asked me to come motivate and tutor the learners because I was good in Maths.  That is where I discovered my calling to be an educator.”

Palesa Mkhwebane, photo taken outside KwaThema Community Hall, Springs, Johannesburg, 2011.
Featuring in Faces & Phases by Zanele Muholi

Palesa went on to win a bursary because of her excellent results, which so far, has covered her tuition and her mom has not had to worry about her school needs.
“When I start working I want to extend my mother’s house” she said. she also mentions that she’s lived all her life in an informal settlement and it’s only been two years since they started living in an Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) house, she also explains that she feels that her mother deserves the best, “I feel like I owe it to myself to do better for my mom” she added.

Palesa has already gained her teaching experience through her practicums.  She has taught high schools and she says “I love teaching! I’m so confident when I’m teaching”. She however says teaching is demanding and it requires a person with passion and patience.  She is an educator and she sees herself teaching for about 8 years.  After that, she plans on furthering her studies so that she can secure a position as a Principal or be working in some capacity at the department of education.  After that she plans on working on her entrepreneurial dream – she would like to run a successful student residence.

With all good things comes the bad.  Her experiences at her first practicum were at Phoenix College.  Her assigned mentor at the school had a problem with her sexuality. “She firstly invited me to church and when I told her I couldn’t make it because I’m Roman Catholic, told me she couldn’t be my mentor and by then I could sense a huge discomfort every time she spoke to me.” The mentor even discussed her with the students and when Palesa found out, she took the matter to the Deputy Principal, who advised that she take the matter up with law enforcement.

She declined but says what happened to her was a learning opportunity for her, because she was able to see a gap as pertains to educating students about homosexuality, which she had never thought of previously.  One of her courses is Life Orientation which help her with addressing subjects around gender roles, lifestyle choices and sexuality.

The 23 year old just got engaged to her girlfriend Palesa Mlangeni who she’s been in a relationship with since 2011. “I want to spend the rest of my life with her” she professes. She doesn’t think she’s too young to get married because she seems to understand one tenet – that succumbing to temptation is a futile exercise.  “The truth always has a way of coming out.”
She concedes that yes she knows there will always be women far more beautiful than her girlfriend but “they can never give me what she gives me.”
She says that when you respect someone and you love that person you will never want to see that particular individual hurt.

_________________

Definitions according to the dictionary…

* practicum

A practicum is a graduate level course, often in a specialized field of study, that is designed to give students supervised practical application of a previously or concurrently studied theory. Practicums (student teaching) are common for education and social work majors. In some cases, the practicum may be a part-time student teaching placement that occurs the semester before a student’s full-time student teaching placement.

* tenet

noun

the fundamental tenet of the ideology: principle, belief, doctrine, precept, creed, credo, article of faith, axiom, dogma, canon; theory, thesis, premise, conviction, idea, view, opinion, position; (tenets) ideology, code of belief, teaching(s).

Previous profiles by Kopano

2013 Sept. 22: Stop this is hurting me…

and

2013 Aug. 13: Love Transcends and Love Prevails

and

2013 July 15: The virus has become a silent relative

and

2013 April 21: Living a legacy is always better than leaving a legacy

and

2013 April 16: Not just a handsome butch lesbian

by S’bu Kheswa

Yehla ngomgogodlo!
Triple distilled and twice as smooth!  It has been very long since I enjoyed my favourite drink.
When one is on some weight-watching tip one misses out on goodies but once in a while you bend down the Ola freezer and come back with Magnum – Death by chocolate.
They call it cheating I call it enjoying the goodness of life. This Saturday when I visit my mom’s house I will leave my calorie-counting attitude at the gate, if I am lucky I will enjoy her culinary skills.
I will take advantage of her good mood as Pirates will be whipping Chiefs and ask her for the meaning of the word heteronormartivity. I can almost hear her struggling to pronounce the word, let alone attempting to give meaning.

Many lesbians are ex-straights. Some of them even have children from those relationships and some were even married and sadly today some live with HIV. This is understandable given that we live in a heteronormative society.
My friend once told me her mom asked “my child, how can you be a lesbian when you have such beautiful legs” I sit here and marvel at the courage these lesbians had to plug to pursue their truths. I can only imagine the price they had to pay and continue to pay just to live honestly and hopefully happier.

I think our society does not appreciate sexual diversity or even diversity in general. To some extent we all want everyone to be like us and should you differ we are ready to mete out punishment. That punishment is package differently for different people, foreign nationals suffer xenophobia, sex workers suffer all kinds of verbal and physical abuse from all corners of our society and lesbians suffer rapes, assaults and recently a spike of murders. I still can’t get it, one is a survivor of xenophobic attacks but he is openly homophobic.  I would expect members of targeted groups to be more accepting of people who are different.

In my line of work there is a bit of preoccupation with terminology. Recently I learnt a strange word homonormativity.  Most people in the LGBTI community can’t stand heteronormativity but to my surprise they are perpetuators of homonormativity. I think heteronormativity and homonormativity are equally problematic. It is equally offensive when LGBTI people assume that every LGBTI person is homosexual, or even to believe that homosexuality is the norm or it is the only acceptable way of being.  Ignorance and transphobia buttress homonormativity and the levels of intolerance that we experience within the LGBTI community. Like my friend’s mom, LGBTI people ask “but she had DD breasts…”

We need to start embracing gender diversity that exists within the LGBTI community. We should welcome and respect ex-homosexuals just like we did with ex-straights.  I believe ex-straights were never straight in the first place. They were homosexuals who circumstantially lived a straight life. So are the ex-homosexuals. Many transgender and transsexuals identify as homosexuals until they plug enough courage to live their truths.

I am also perplexed by the limited understanding of gender even amongst gender activists. I can fully understand that there are people who take the lesbian identity for political reasons.
Being transgender or transsexual is apolitical, though some folk choose to keep the trans identity for political reasons.  These are just psychological conditions that are can be treated biologically.  It is a shame we live in a patriarchal society because those of us who choose to align our minds and our bodies become beneficiaries of the system.

To make you happy I could tell you, those people who think because you were born ‘female’ you should be ‘woman’ must be referred to us so that they can see no one should be anything because of the ‘sex’ they were born with. As female born person you should be able to live your life as you wish and nobody should box you into a gender. Those people who believe masculinity or manhood is God-given, the highest thing that can never be attained, tell them that there are people like me who mastered it in no time at all (wink-wink).
If you don’t like this whole piece blame it on Jack Daniel’s.

Previous by S’bu

2013 Oct. 18: Transition is in your hands

When:    17 – 20 October 2013

Where:  Regent’s Park,London, UK

Related links

Frieze Talks

Sexuality, Politics and Protest
It has been 20 years since ACT UP, Gran Fury and queer activism reshaped the power of contemporary art and protest. What is the legacy of and possibility for art and protest now?

Neil Bartlett (Theatre Director, Author and Performer, Brighton)

Marlene McCarty (Artist, New York)

Zanele Muholi (Photographer, Johannesburg)

Chair: Jennifer Kabat (Writer, New York)

A Public Service Announcement (PSA) to end hate crimes in South Africa.

It is an activist/ artist’s direct response to the epidemic of ‘curative rapes’ and murders of black lesbians in SA today.

Video archive.

Captured with Canon 60D camera

+ EF lens 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM

Related links

2013 March 8: Public Event announcement

and

2013 Sept. 29: Soweto Pride 2013

Performing The Future white woman of Azania.
Procession-deambulation of d’Athi Patra Ruga.

Video taken with iPhone 4 by Valerie Thomas in Paris.

More on Athi Patra Ruga

by Xana Nyilenda

2013/09/20:
I shut my eyes for what felt like a brief moment in passing. I woke up to realize I had passed out on the bed for a good three hours. It sounds like enough resting time and usually is the amount of sleep I have on a regular basis.
Only it was a different kind of fatigue one I couldn’t explain, I was completely finished only I couldn’t sleep. I sluggishly awoke to Zanele who was already out of bed full of energy editing and posting a few articles on the Inkanyiso website.
We were still pretty much operating on South African time, there’s a nine-hour time difference. Which meant while we were wide-awake, Los Angeles city was sleeping.

As Zanele and I were busy conversing and planning our itinerary for the day.
I decided to join the wagon and start writing too. There is nothing like putting a few thoughts and feelings on a piece of paper to pass the time.
A result was a blog about leaving South Africa and my experiences here in LA as a first time visitor. As the new day dawned, the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise appeared as the sun emerged from beyond the hills.
I anxiously stared out the window and watched the city come alive, albeit three maybe five people walking on the street, a cyclist or runner.

You should know that Little Tokyo District is as the name sounds a small Japanese community within the confines of the city. There are a lot of other similar parts of town inhabited by just a certain ethnic group or cultural group of people that will be something that is glaringly obvious to you as you explore the city.

The division of race groups all around which is masked behind reasons such as the preservation of culture and sticking together as minority groups.
In spite of this I got a chance to experience a world where all cultures merged harmoniously to form a collective.  A group of young intelligent minds seeking to change the world of which you will later read about later.

Having been too tired to even eat the previous evening, Zanele and myself set out downstairs to the hotel restaurant for a good hearty, healthy Japanese breakfast. I tell you I’m a big fan of Japanese culture and lifestyle so for me this was pretty big for me. We enjoyed our breakfast buffet at a side bar overlooking a window allowing us a view of the city. I then noticed something really odd for me, there were hardly or no people on the street.
At first I thought that maybe it was because no one kicks it into gear early in the morning around these parts, but unlike South Africans there’s a huge driving culture here.

If you’ve ever been to Johannesburg, South Africa you’ll understand to what it means to live in a big city where with everything so close yet so far apart from each other. On a larger scale add some good weather with a dollop of theatre and you have Los Angeles.
It is with that observation that I began noticing that everything we had seen being portrayed about this city in particular as in actuality completely different in real life. With breakfast done and our stomachs filled to our satisfaction and a bit of typing done, nature called. I requested to use the restroom and with no surprise, little old lady almost messed her pants, refusing to use the toilet whilst I was still in there.
Something that I experience constantly back home; being mistaken for guy, I digress.
It was now time to get ready for the rest of what seemed was going to be an eventful day.

L-R: Carrie Mae Weems; Lyle Ashton Harris, John Akomfrah, Nana Adusei-Poku, Füsun Türetken; Robert Hutter; Zanele Muholi; Ingrid Mwangi and Xana Nyilenda at Pitzer College in LA.

With all the featured artists and guests namely; Lyle Ashton Harris, New York-based artist and Associate Professor at New York university (Global), Nana Adusei-Poku, Applied Research Professor in Cultural Diversity at Rotterdam University/Willem de Kooning Academy & Piet Zwart Institute and Lecturer in Media Arts at the University of the Arts, Zurich.
Zanele Muholi, a Visual Activist/ Photographer from Umlazi, Durban, also founder of Inkanyiso converged in the lobby to meet up with our driver who would then take us out in to Claremont where Pitzer College a member of the Claremont Colleges is situated.

After a forty-five minute drive on the highway and getting to know each other. We passed every imaginable fast food restaurant, food chain and American franchise we’ve all seen on our tellies but it still didn’t quite look right.
We finally arrived at the college where we then met all of the other participants and organizers of the Symposium/Exhibition. Carrie Mae Weems an American Artist and Photographer, Ruti Talmor, Assistant Professor of Media Studies at Pitzer College, programmer and curator.
Renee Mussai a Curator and Head of Archive at Autograph ABP a Photographic Arts agency at Rivington Place, London.

Shortly after the meet and greet session over a cup of coffee and something to eat (I had a smoothie called “Naked”-which tastes as good as sounds and the best brownie I’ve ever had in my life).
Everyone headed for the colleges’ George C.S. Benson Auditorium where a Keynote Lecture was given by Carrie Mae Weems, sharing some of her work past experiences within her career. Reflecting on some of the major themes in her thought-provoking work was also sharing wise words which she so eloquently expressed.
As the day progressed the opening of the exhibition “Glyphs: Acts of Inscription” was held at the Nichols Gallery in Pitzer College – this exhibition will run from
19 September – 5 December 2013, -where it was open to all visitors and students alike.
To name a few artworks exhibited that stood out were Mwangi Hutter a collaborative who resides in Ludwigshafen and Berlin, Germany and in Nairobi, Kenya.
Presenting an installation Aesthetic of Uprising II, (2011) of a large photo print depicting a muddy, almost naked woman running on all fours over dry land- which looks almost like Southern Africa where it merges with a pool of black fluid /paint with pieces of materiel that have text on them.
Mickalene Thomas’ “Le dejeuner sur I’herbe: trois femmes noire” (2010) which is a tongue and cheek interpretation of Edouard Manet’s “The Luncheon on the Grass” (Le déjeuner sur l’herbe), 1863.
Zanele Muholi’s “Faces and Phases” (2006-present) a series of black and white portraits depicting the black lesbian in South Africa and John Akomfrah’s “Peripeteia” 2012 a video installation which drew it’s inspiration from drawings done by Albrecht Durer in the sixteenth century.

After the proceedings as per exhibition protocol food and wine was served at a reception to allow mingling of guests and students. We then got a chance to watch John Akomfrah’s “Peripetia” simply put it was beautiful. My attention was drawn to the next section of the video installation part of the exhibition. This one was one that sparked a whole lot of interest from onlookers as they crowded around the piece just to see what was going on. Much like the other curious looking faces I watched gazing into the screen, that at that moment I had no view of. I got up to have a glance at what seemed to be an amazing sight judging from the dumbfounded looks on their faces.
As I turned the corner into the booth I was forced to turn away from the multitude of people crowded around the screen, which made it impossible for me to even sneak a peek.

I then decided to leave the room, and lucky for me a whole lot of others followed suit as they were experiencing the same problem I was at the time. Obviously this was an opportunity for me to turn back before I even exited the building.

In doing so I walked in on a woman attentively gawking at the screen engrossed in what she was seeing. She looked like she could be in her mid-forties, tall slim figure in a floral dress, curly hair and eyes that could pierce your soul.
She turned to look at me, deliberately turning her attention away from the screen and stared into my eyes, passing me her set of headphones even though I already picked up my own. Not wanting to be rude I graciously accepted them without breaking eye contact and thanked her.

I then put my headphones on and turned to the screen and watched South African artists Andrew Putter’s “Secretly I will Love You” video that combine video and photography. What followed conjured up a supernatural encounter and was one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen. I had one of the most eerie but intellectually stimulating experiences with two perfect strangers with the second seemingly have appeared out of nowhere. I really would’ve loved to stay to see what would transpire at that moment but everyone was extremely tired from travelling.
So we then headed for our hotel for dinner and some rest.

To be continued…

Part IV will be about the Difficult Love screening and Q&A at Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center (LAGLC)

Previous by Xana

2013 Oct. 4: Cramps were killing me 

and

2013 Sept. 23: Leaving Los Angeles

and

2013 Sept. 29: A fierce episode

and

Xana Nyilenda’s birthday

by Fikile Mazambani

Zanele Muholi’s name has become synonymous with her visual activism which she calls “Visual/ Art activism – an artistic approach to hate crimes” such that one can almost overlook that she is a master at how she arrives at that visual.
On 28th of October 2013, Zanele became the first South African to be appointed as an independent video and photography Honorary Professor at the University of the Arts/Hochschule für Künste Bremen in Germany.

The artist was officially welcomed to her position by Bremen’s Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Dr. Eva Quante-Brandt who presented her with her appointment letter.
The occasion was even more special because the university was also marking their 25th anniversary.
This was an inspirational time for fellow South African photographer and filmmaker, Themba Vilakazi, who was wearing many hats on that day.

As an African photographer himself, Vilakazi felt encouraged and in awe of Muholi’s accolade.  “I have never heard of anyone in South Africa who has been bestowed the honour of a professorship. I have heard of honorary degrees but this is just on another level.
Now the next stop is the Order of Ikhamanga!
They have to consider the body of work”, he says passionately, challenging the South African government to honour one of their own as they mark 20 Years of Democracy in 2014.

Professor of Media Aesthetics, Prof. Dr Claudia Reiche believes Muholi has earned her stripes and deserves the title. “I think that Muholi is a wonderful artist, rightfully renowned in the art world as well as in the LGBT activists’ contexts.”
Muholi will be resuming her lectures on December 3, 2013 and will be “free to teach the students of digital media and others from the faculty of Art and Design during some block seminars, in a way she prefers” Dr Reiche confirmed. “I hope Zanele Muholi’s personal and artistic courage will inspire students with the courage to pursue their basic questions in
Life and Art.”

Prof. Zanele Muholi after the reception. © Themba Vilakazi (28/10/2013)

The Prince Clause Award laurette’s persistence has paid off.  After graduating from Market Photography Workshop in Johannesburg, she dove right into her work and started making a statement with her camera.
Faces and Phases is one of her most visible projects to date.
She knew that there were no positive images portraying lesbians and that if she, as a member of that community, did not break some doors down, no one else would.
Where there was once a void, there is now an over flowing archive.

Vilakazi says “Photography used to be a rich man’s indulgence but it has shifted, but then again it has not changed for everyone because many black families do not have family pictures.  I do not have pictures of my great grandfather and grandfather.
Faces and Phases changed that.  It is an archive that will say these faces existed at this particular phase.  It allowed those often relegated to the shadows to come to the forefront.”

Muholi’s works are a strong show of her advocating for human rights of the LGBTI community.  She says of her work “no matter how you feel about the LGBTI community, one cannot deny our existence.  We need to say we are here and work hard and be consistent” she says. She created an archive of ‘family’ portraits that future generations can pull from.

“Whether you accept the LGBT persons or not, you must acknowledge that these are people who actually exist.  If they were your family, you would not portray them in a compromising way.
This is why I had to take a stand and do something.”

On how she felt about this honour, she got quiet in her answer as she spoke of it being a bittersweet moment for her.
She wished her late mother would have been there to celebrate the fruits of her labour – literally.  “This energy that creates comes from her womb really. I miss my mom.”

She quickly changes gear as she becomes commanding again, emphasising that this is an attainable goal for anyone who reaches for it.
“I want any young person to know that this is possible.  We just have to work harder be consistent, focused and relevant in what we do.
We also need collaborations.  I am made by the people and I serve the people.
I am always humbled by their kindness and the way they have embraced my ideas.” 

Muholi has come full circle, starting off at the Market Workshop in Johannesburg driven by a frustration of not being able to see herself portrayed in any positive media, to perfecting her skill when she got her Master Fine Arts: Documentary Media degree
at Ryerson University, right down to now becoming the disseminator of knowledge.
She feels humbled and says this is bigger than her.
“We are doing this for the collective, for our grandchildren tomorrow.”

In 2013 alone, Muholi has surpassed even her own standards, winning the Fine Prize for an emerging artist at the 2013 Carnegie International, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
She is being honoured with the prestigious Prince Claus Award, to be presented in Amsterdam in December 2013.
She won the Index on Censorship – Freedom of Expression art award in London in March, and the Mbokodo Award for Creative Photography in August.

On the 2^nd of November 2013, Muholi presented her new work at Sharp Sharp exhibition, La Gaite Lyrique in Paris.

Related links

South African artist wins in the US

and

LGBTQ visual activist discusses ‘curative rape’ in South Africa

and

La sud-africaine Zanele Muholi, une photographe révoltée

There are amazing particles in life that we miss because
we look too hard for all the wrongs of our past

We compare
two things from two different worlds
Because we travel new roads with old shoes
We are bound to think we’ve stepped on the same stones
before holding on has become our biggest fear
Trying
Just trying one more time is a big impossibility
Because we’ve been told too many times that giving up,
letting go and moving on
Is the only way to stay sane

We move too quickly
To only stay behind
Who told us we should leave when we want to stay?

What happened to following your heart?
Is it because of the pains of your past
that you buried with all your dreams
that you were told they too hard reach?

When did we become so immune to pain
We protect our hearts from hurting yet pain is a part of life

How do we expect to live without pain nor disappointments?

I want to get real
Tell the truth
and admit to wanting more than I utter

What really happened to
“I believe in Love”
I will stay in love
I will give my all
I will pray hard
I will hold on
I will keep moving
and never will I compare oil with water

Who changed our hearts?
Why did we allow them
to inflict so much pain and forget
to take the lessons in it all

Moving in circles
Going round and round
Looking for a problem
A tiny mistake
Just to start a fight

And feel alive after saying a few words
you’ll later regret and ask to be forgiven

When do we really own up to our mistakes
and accept defeat

In which year did you change?
Do you still remember who you were?
before all the scars that are covered with make up?
Who is this reflection you see on the mirror?
Do you recognize anything about it?
When did you start looking like the rest?
Sounding like all the other retards
Walking in the same direction as the rest?

When did YOU die only to wake up
to a duplicate of yourself
How come we rejoice in fake celebrations that
have separated us from our spirituality?

Can you still draw a line if I give you a ruler and a pen?

Will you be able to move with the times
but carry YOURSELF in it?

But when did carrying yourself become so hard?
Who told you
You need to be something else other than who you are?

What went wrong in love?
In self love?
How come you don’t see
your own reflection in the water anymore?

© Maureen Velile Majola
05/11/2013

Previous by Maureen

2013 Oct. 20: Deafened by my own ignorance

...for Thapelo Makutle

All throat now…..already brighter than the stars.

I could hold you in my song. Sotto voce, tremble

against me: a breeze slips in, cools my blood

to garnet…..bed stained with stones, cold and finally

useless………..I Orpheo,…..I lyre. Down river, even damned

with hum, there is room for your cry in my mouth……Sweet,

sweet sotto voce, I sang your moan until…..the machete

swung…..then I kept singing. I eyeless,…..I eternal.

The guards hold blades to the sky and cut the dark open.

Do you hear me raining……….from the wound? My tongue

is a kingdom……You live there.

—Saeed Jones

About the author

Saeed Jones is the author of the chapbook When the Only Light is Fire (2011, Sibling Rivalry Press) and poetry collection Prelude To Bruise (Forthcoming 2014, Coffee House Press.)
His work has appeared in Best Gay Stories 2013, Guernica, Ebony Magazine, The Rumpus, Hayden’s Ferry Review and West Branch among other publications. He received his MFA in Creative Writing at Rutgers University – Newark. He is the recipient of fellowships from Cave Canem and Queer / Arts / Mentors.
He is the editor of BuzzFeed LGBT and lives in New York City.

Related links

Gentle man’s brutal murder turns spotlight on intolerance

Thapelo’s service

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6piy1aBJzQ

Thapelo’s funeral

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGRhrQC3VgI

A journey of research on Black lesbians in South Africa and finding hope

by Bridget Ngcobo

In January of 2012 I ventured to Katlehong, a township in Johannesburg to conduct ethnographic research on Black South African lesbian activism, with grassroots organization Ihawu. With the guidance and tutelage of visual activist Zanele Muholi and academic Zethu Matebeni I embarked on a journey that changed my life. I suppose there are few ways to express the sentiment of having ones life changed without at first sounding dramatic, but the Black lesbians I met while conducting my research are unveiling the possibility of paradigm shifts and thus changed my life.

When I first set out to do this research on Black lesbians in South Africa, being based at an American tertiary institution, unaware of the activism. I was entirely focused on the violence being meted out on Black lesbian bodies.
Having read of disturbing cases of ‘corrective rape’ and other forms of torture being suffered by Black lesbians in South African townships, all I wanted to do was expose the violence. But instead, I ended up being called instead to write of the vitality of Black lesbian activism.

Writing about one’s own identity through an Academic lens is always complicated work. At the time of conducting my research, I was looking to understand myself.  Having spent my formative years of academic awakening in the United States, I wanted to come back to South Africa with words to describe what and how my consciousness was formed.

Sitting in the ivory tower, all I had ever known was that Black lesbians were seen as social pariahs and cultural dissidents despite having enumerated rights in South Africa’s constitution, hence my limited focus.
I have to explain where I was coming from, not to exonerate myself from the guilt of indulging in the sensationalist nature of exposing violence, but rather to explain that the consumption of Black South African lesbians can be another form of violence.

My journey with Muholi started at a Human Rights Watch presentation of , We’ll Show You You‘re a Woman,” on violence and discrimination experienced by Black  lesbians in South African townships. After the presentation I went to lunch in Woodstock, Cape Town with Muholi and Matebeni. The mood was set by the South Africa’s summer sun and the vibrant colors one is bound to see on Woodstock’s streets close to trendy galleries and eateries.

Before eating together Muholi made a stop at the Michael Stevenson Gallery to check in on her Exhibition. Sitting at Kitchen alone with Matebeni for a while I dissolved into a panicked tirade on working my frustration with reaching a cohesive research question.  She listened patiently, after I finished she asked me, why I was not interested in writing about the joy of lesbian sexuality or lesbian pleasure. It was a simple question that set the stage for a research project that changed my sense of self. After Muholi returned, both her and Matebeni exchanged the most delicious stories of Black lesbian lives and vitality. This made me realize that what Matebeni was saying, is that violence against Black lesbians is only a small component of a much larger picture regarding Black lesbian consciousness in South Africa.

A few days later, I followed Muholi to Johannesburg and ended up conducting a group interview in Katlehong with members of Ihawu. After the interview I helped Muholi with taking photographs of the ladies and experiencing both their faces and lives bought to life the personification of resilience.  The seed planted by Matebeni grew into what became the focus of my research.
The members of Ihawu spoke passionately of their plans to confront homophobia in the township, speaking of efforts to make safe sex kits available for gay and lesbian South African’s in their local clinic. They skillfully articulated how they planned on growing networks to expand employment opportunities both within Ihawu and beyond. I knew after this visit that not writing about their activism and resilience would be as criminal as the violence inflicted on Black lesbian bodies in township spaces.

It is important to acknowledge, confront and write about corrective rape and other instances of torture and violence against Black lesbians, but it is also important to realize that is only half the story.
Muholi’s 2006, photographic portrayal of violent discrimination faced by black lesbians in South Africa, is thus aptly named,“Only Half the Picture.”
Black lesbians lives and activism reveal an agency centered on Blackness and femininity that is cannot be mistaken. Thus engaging with power in a way that forced me to look introspectively at my own latent possibility as an agent of change in post-apartheid South Africa.

A year after the completion of my thesis “Your Silence Will Not Protect You: (Re) presenting Resilience – The Black South African Lesbian; Activism and the Individual.”
I went to the Yancey Richardson Art Gallery, in Chelsea, New York to see Muholi’s Faces and Phases exhibition.
I walked into the gallery wide eyed, brimming with emotions, nostalgic for the strength and courage home. At this point I was working at a corporate law firm, young, drained and desperate for a reminder of my own capacity to affect change in my own country. When I stepped into the gallery I found what I was looking for.

Some Faces & Phases portraits exhibited

One of the most striking aspects of Muholi’s piercing black and white portraits of Black lesbians presented through the Faces and Phases project is that it calls for introspection.  You can see your own reflection in the eyes of the women that Muholi dares you to engage with.
The frames and glass do not act as barrier, but instead facilitate you seeing yourself in their eyes of Black lesbians.
This introspection dares you to ask what role you play in the lives of Black lesbians in South Africa. Even if your role, like mine, is to stand quietly in a gallery in New York, and ask difficult questions of post-apartheid South Africa:
like what does it mean to be Black?
And what does it mean to be lesbian in a place that condemns you for loving who you love?
And finally what does it mean to (re)define the terms of your agency despite your circumstance?

The research I conducted in South Africa on Black lesbian activism changed my life and continues to do so today, begging me to ask more questions, (re)visit the parameters of my own agency and propels me (re)present the agency of Black lesbians in South Africa.

About the author

Bridget Ngcobo is a Black South African poet.
She is an adventurous spirit born in Pietermaritzburg, educated in Massachusetts and constantly finding strength in the lives of those around her. The eyes and the stories of others remind her always, that Marianne Williamson must have been right when she said, “our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

Only 8 days more to go before D-day which is the 7th Dec. 2013

Please come support this initiative and check more details on Facebook should you wish to come on board with your skills and moolahs.
Twitter @MissGayLesbianSoweto.

Facebook: Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto 2013.

Dear Friend,

If you are interested in reviewing QAR, kindly write to Sokari Ekine:
sokari@blacklooks.org
Thank you!

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 money from their pockets, due to lack of funding and sponsorship, forced organisers to stop hosting the beauty pageant.

However they refused to give up, and in 2012 the beauty pageant was resuscitated. On Saturday, 7th of December 2013, Soweto Theatre hosted the 9th Miss Gay and Lesbian Soweto.

Although they have upped the standard, even changing venues, their efforts were in vain as the event failed to pull the crowd.

Mpho Maqalika performing at the 2013 Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto

The event kicked off with a powerful poetry performance titled “unattainable soul” by Mpho “Poposki”. The poet also performed another poem titled “My complexion” which speaks of inner peace and not allowing other people’s expectations to lead us to self hatred. While Tumi Ndweni wowed the audience with a drag performance of Brenda Fassie’s Black president.

For their first appearance on stage, the contestants were wearing white, as a way of paying tribute to former President Nelson Mandela, as well as gays and lesbians who’ve been killed.

Labelz & Boiki, the best MCs in town…

Duo, Labelz and Boiki kept the audience entertained as MCs. The pair kept changing from one elegant outfit to another, and Labelz’ humor left people in stitches.

Eva Mofokeng leading the girls in swimwear

The swimwear category followed the tributes and was energetic and beautifully choreographed. The showstopper has to be the formal wear category, which saw contestants pull out all the stops.

The contestants impressed the audience and judges, by strutting their stuff: high heels, makeup, hairstyles and figure hugging dresses. While the lesbians looked handsome in suits, waistcoats, ties and bowties.

Once the “beauty” contest was wrapped up, the top five was selected and asked questions as a way of testing their “brains”. This section is often controversial and entertaining, and this pageant was no different.

Some of the questions asked included:

• When did Nelson Mandela die?
• What is the meaning of lgbti (the contestant quizzed failed to answer)?
• Who was the first black lesbian to come out in public and the media?
• What does the lgbti flag represent?
• What book are you currently reading?

This section resulted in some funny, smart, dull and unfortunately not so smart answers. After the second round of questions, it was time announce the top three.

Miss 2013 Gay Soweto: Nhlanhla ‘Fiona’ Thabatha, 1st Princess, Dimpho Tsotetsi and 2nd Princes Miss Tee Menu

The winners are:

Gays
Queen: Nhlanhla aka “Fiona” Thabatha
1st Princess: Dimpho Tsotetsi
2nd Princess: Miss Tee Menu

Vuvu in best red outfit impressed the audience and came the 2nd Prince…

Lesbians
King: Paballo Tholwana
1st Prince: Nini Moagi
2nd Prince: Vuvu Makubetse

All in all, the event was well organized and the contestants seemed prepared, the most disappointing part is that there was less audience than expected. We hope that the 2014 pageant will have positive vibe considering that we’ll be celebrating South African 20 Years of Democracy.

Women flaunting their all at recent 2013 Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto contest… Centred is Dimpho Tsotetsi who became the 1st Princess. Photos by Zanele Muholi (2013)

Previous by Lerato

Related articles

2013 Dec. 3: Gorgeous people at the Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto 2013 semis

and

2013 Sept. 15: Lack of SA Queer History knowledge at the Miss & Mr Gay Daveyton

and

 Jaw-dropping beauties at the Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto 2013 semi-finals

and

2013 Nov. 8: Miss Gay & Lesbian Soweto 2013 Semis video

Twitter @MissGayLesbianSoweto.

Facebook: Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto 2013.

Click here for more photos from the 2013 Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto finals.

Photo album by Zanele Muholi/Inkanyiso
When: (07/12/2013)
Where:  Soweto Theatre, Jabulani. Soweto. Johannesburg
What:  2013 Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto
Camera used: Canon 6d with 60mm and 85mm, f2.8 lens.

Previous article

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

Eva Mofokeng leading the girls in swimwear

Timiko Xaba preparing herself backstage

Vuvu in best red outfit impressed the audience and came the 1st Prince…

Miss 2013 Gay Soweto: Nhlanhla ‘Fiona’ Thabatha, 1st Princess, Dimpho Tsotetsi and 2nd Princes Miss Tee Menu

Photo album PART II to follow…

by Londeka Dlamini

Izolo iNingizimu Afrika yonkana ibithintekile ngokuhanjelwa iqhawe uTata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela obefihlwa khona izolo endaweni yase Qunu esifundazweni sase Eastern Cape okulapho azalelwa khona uTata. Khona manjalo isizwe sonkana nakwamanye amazwe bekugujwa inkululeko asilethela yona uTata uMandela, abangakwazanga ukumphelezela eyobekwa endlini yakhe yokugcina bebewubuka kumabonakude umngcwabo waleliqhawe, abanye belalele emsakazweni, ngisho emasontweni immbala bekuphakanyiswa amaflegi alapha eNingizimu Afrika kuphakanyiswa nezithombe zakhe Tata uMadiba kuthiwa siyabonga ukulwile ukulwa okuhle.

Ibandla eliseThekwini esifundazweni saKwaZulu Natal iVictory Ministries International elaziwa kakhulu ngokwamukela abantu abaphila impilo yobutabane (Gay Friendly Church) nakhona bekuvaleliswa uTata, kukhulunywa ngenkululeko asiphe yona. Isikhulumi uPaul obedlulisa amazwi enkuthazo
(word of encouragement) ukhulume ngencwadi ka Daniel isahluko sesbili evesini leshumi nane kuya kweleshumi nesishagalombili (Daniel 2: verse 14-18) lapho khona amadoda amathathu ephoswa emlilweni ngoba enqaba ukukhothamela isithombe esasibekiwe, uPaul uthathe wathi uTata uMadiba uyilwelile inkululeko yabantu abamnyama ngakho akukho lapho sikhothama khona singathandi, sesiphila sikhululekile.

Bekubhalwe umunyu kuwowonke umuntu enkonzweni ngokudlula kuka Madiba emhlabeni, abazalwane bonke befake izingubo ezimnyama okukhombisa ukuzila.
Kukhanyiswe amakhandlela, ilowo nalowo ephethe elakhe ukuthi ndlelanhle ku Tata uMandela, kuculwe amaculo omzabalazo akhuluma ngo Madiba kwashukuma indlu yonke lapho khona umfundisikazi uZungu ecula iculo elithi ”Nelson Mandela usilethela uxolo”, ne Worship-Team yebandla ingazibekile phansi becula amaculo asikhumbuza oka Madiba esho phambili uZodwa Ndlovu kanye no Zama beqala amaculo.
Kuthe kusenjalo omunye umzalwane washo ngengilo eculo iculo elithi ” Uhulumeni uyagcwala ngathi, uthi asishade sthandane sodwa uhulumeni uyagcwala ngathi”, indlu yonke ilithakasele leliculo abashadile bekhomba izindandatho zabo kanye no mam’ mfundisi.

Ibe isisipha izwi leNkosi inceku kaNkulunkulu umfundisi uZungu, wavula encwadini kaMathewu 8 verse 28-32, lapho khona kukhulunywa ngamadimoni. ”Ngike ngathula ngacabanga ukuthi ukube uTata akayilwelanga inkululeko yethu ngabe sikuphi, uJesu weza emhlabeni ukuba umxhumanisi phakathi komuntu no Nkulunkulu, kanjalo no Tata ube isipho kithina waba ngumxhumanisi phakathi komuntu omnyama nomhlophe. Ukulwile ukulwa okuhle lala uphumule Tata Madiba” lawo kube amazwi ka mfundisi eqala intshumayelo yakhe. UMenzi Nxumalo obeqoqa umnikelo ukhulume ngokuthi ukube uMadiba akayilwelanga inkululeko ngabe abantu abakwazi ngisho ukukhululeka ngempilo yobutabane, usebenzile uTata kodwa manje uyiqedile indima yakhe.

Isigoqwa inkonzo umfundisi uphakamise uMvangeli uSkhumbuzo Sbisi kanye no Thula Khanyile oyilungu lebandla naye esho ukuthi uMahlase ubeyocela ibuhlobo obuhle kubo ka Thula, babe sebebahalalisela bebaxhawula ngenjabulo bonke abazalwane kwazise umfundisi uhlale enxusa ukuba abazalwane balobolane bashade kwaziwe bangajolani emakhoneni.

Previous by Londeka and related articles

2013 Sept. 19: Ikhiphe Icwecwe layo lokuqala i Victory Ministries (VMCI)

and

2013 September 1: Bafake umfaniswano omama nobab’ umfundisi

and

2013 June 18: New Brand For House Music Lovers

and

2013 June 16: Zishade libalele izitabane

and

2013 June 15: The Durban Lesbian Wedding of the Year

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) hosted a four day workshop on strategies to overcome political exclusion by marginalised groups from the Global South, particularly the Southern African region. The workshop took place from the 3- 6 Dec .2013.

IDEA group during the workshop…

Although I attended the last two days of the workshop with Zanele Muholi, the workshop was really an educational and a platform that linked a number of civil society groups from the region. Participants came from various Southern African countries including:  Rainbow Identity (Botswana); LEGABIBO (Botswana); Women and Law in Southern Africa (Lesotho); National University of Lesotho (Lesotho); Centre for the Development of People (Malawi); Non-Governmental Organisation Gender Coordination Network (NGO GCN) (Malawi); National Youth Council of Malawi (Malawi); Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (Malawi); Civil Liberties Committee (Malawi); Women Across Borders (Namibia); Namibia Women’s Health Network (Namibia); Pan African ILGA/PAI  (Namibia); Zambia National Women’s Group (Zambia); Operation Young Vote/OYV  (Zambia); National Association of Youth Organisations/ NAYO (Zimbabwe); Coalition of African Lesbians / CAL (South Africa); 180 Studios (Australia);  LaNYT Theatre (England); Minority Rights Group International (United Kingdom); Fortify Rights (Thailand); IDEA (Sweden); Inkanyiso (South Africa)

Amanda’s facilitation…

The workshops were facilitated by Amanda Harding who is a consultant from England/ France and the much broader focus was on marginalised groups which included issues affecting members of the LGBTI community, women and youth.
Different strategies and lessons were further discoursed and shared at this platform. Upon my arrival with Muholi (on the third day), there was a great sense of community and positive energy among the participants of the workshop. Muholi with her photographic savvy and prowess was requested to take a group photo of the participants and their spirits were sky-high as they smiled “cheese” directly at the camera lens without fail.

After lunch, Muholi took to the platform to present on visual activism: multi-media strategies and how different media outlets can be organized in combination to battle political exclusion. Muholi was introduced by Lerato Dumse to the participants briefly as she set up shop for her presentation.

The presentation proved to be refreshing as Muholi spoke on queer visibility in mainstream media  and taking ownership of media platforms as way of asserting queer existence.
A video-clip which Muholi worked on in collaboration with the Human Rights Watch (HRW) was screened and it explored her work as a visual activist.
The video-clip documented Muholi’s photographic practice in which she asserts lesbian love and violence through portraiture. The work of Inkanyiso which she founded was also captured in the clip and spoke of importance of collectivism and how the platform explores the untold stories and experiences of black lesbians and other members of the LGBTI community.
Muholi  further necessitated the importance of creative art forms as a tool for advancing gender advocacy and human rights objectives.

She provided the participants with a more tangible evidence of how documentation can perform the work of political assertion in a much contested and violent social environment against minority groups and black lesbians in the country and beyond.

Blessed kiss of Nhlanhla & Ayanda on their wedding day at Kwanele Park, Thokoza on the 9th Nov. 2013.

Furthermore, Muholi shared the recent documentary of Ayanda Magoloza and Nhlanhla Moremi’s wedding (a lesbian couple) who live in Thokoza township as way of expounding on what she had mentioned in the video  viewed earlier.
There is a necessity of a balanced documentation, one that is an honest representation of queer realities.

“SO therefore one must strike a balance between the stories of love and intimacy than those which are negative: …of violence and hate crimes” she said.
The viewing of the lesbian’s couple wedding in the township was undisputedly revitalizing as it provided an instant for a celebration of positive narratives of romantic lesbian love and passion.  “These stories are equally important as they themselves ignite anger and disorganizes the mind of the perpetrators of hate crimes” said Muholi.

After the presentation the group headed for dinner which was held at Moyo restaurant in Pretoria.  The food was scrumptious and provided another opportunity for personal engagement among participants. There was a musician with an acoustic guitar playing all sorts of melodies and harmonies which left the participants dance and hop as if their lives depended on those expressions.

Zami being painted after dinner at Moyo’s…

The last day of the workshop began with the moment of reflection from what the participants had learned thus far. Majority of the participants pointed out on Muholi’s inspirational presentation and reflected on the importance of documentation and the use of available resources for communication. Others pointed out how they have learned the use of theatre as an instrument of initiating change.

Before wrapping up the workshop, the organisers set up a small-group task on alliance building and mobilization strategies.
The task was to deliberately gear the participants into formulating strategies on what was imparted on them throughout the workshop. The participants were divided into three groups, each working on youth, women’s rights and the LGBTI community respectively. Subsequently there was a feedback session by a representative from each group describing strategies on alliance building from their own separate thematic areas as tasked.

All the groups were not as original as they basically reiterated what was discussed throughout the session, from politically-charged theatrical initiatives to documentation projects that was spoken of amongst others.

However the workshop was an interesting platform as it explored the intersectional similarities between marginalised groups. The session ended with concluding remarks from Amanda Harding and Julian Smith who were the facilitators from International IDEA.

Related article

2013 Dec. 3: “Strategies to overcome Political Exclusion-Lessons from Southern Africa”

by Yaya Mavundla

Two days before the wedding (19/12/13) everyone at Inkanyiso is confused about when the wedding is.
Is it Saturday or Sunday, we contact a few people in Daveyton and NO one knows about the wedding.
Then we called Lesiba Mothibe (Uthingo Chairperson) who was also unsure.

“You are hereby Summoned to Appear as a Witness for the two Accused, Promise Meyer & Gift Samonne.
Charges: Falling in love.
Court: 607 Vivian Drive, Chris Hani Park, Daveyton.
Sentencing: 22nd December 2013, 14h00 for 14h30”

Promise & Gift sharing a kiss after photo shoot at O.R Tambo gardens, Wattville.
© Photos by Zanele Muholi

Need I say more?
All I can say is we had so much fun after reading the invitation.
We then started with task delegations and were looking forward to the wedding.
I of course had to worry about what to wear, but trust me I wasn’t the only one worried.

Sunday 22^nd Dec. 2013, at 11h30 we were ready to rock and roll. We drove to Daveyton with the team and got there around 12h00. At first we couldn’t find the venue, but eventually we got there after driving around.

“Who is getting married” was my first question when we got into the house.
I was confused; perhaps it was the environment, the setting. I didn’t get a clear indication of what was happening, who was doing what?

At around about 12h15 a very tall gay guy, light in complexion wearing a leopard print vest arrived while we were still chatting to the people who were busy decorating the tent for the wedding. “Hi, I’m sorry I’m late, things are hectic, thank you for coming” and that was Promise, the bride!

We sat next to the tent and asked him a few questions and you could just tell that he was under so much pressure, but I mean it’s his wedding day, its normal.

The honest truth is we were exhausted, we really wanted to see things starting to roll already. I will not lie, I was skeptical that things will be in place by 14h00 to start the programme as the person who was getting married was still busy with the dishes and cooking, basically all over the place, making sure that everything was in order. He eventually got dressed, but I wasn’t convinced that things would be ready by 14h00!

To my surprise, things were ready before 14h00.
I really loved the Kilt skirts, such a statement! The taxi that was confirmed to transport bridesmaids and groomsman to O.R Tambo Cultural Precinct for pictures didn’t pitch!
Luckily we came to the wedding with a taxi so things came together and were off to O.R Tambo.
The energy from everyone in the taxi was amazing, we partied so hard on the way and everyone was ready to pose like a cover girl.

When we got to the venue, the bride (Promise) directed everything very smoothly. It was his task to do so, as he was also the wedding planner.
As always, there will always be show stoppers and the ones that just don’t get it, like they would say on twitter #TheStruggleContinues, trust me that’s exactly what happened.  Some of the grooms men just didn’t get it, but then again, they are “butch” so we can forgive them.

While we are busy with the pictures, I had a chat with the bride, Promise Samonne-Meyer, I could tell that he was now a bit calm than he was when we were at the house earlier.
I asked him, what would you like to tell me about today’s experience?
He immediately responded “I am so happy knowing that everything is going on as planned, we are making history in Daveyton, we are the 1st Gay Couple to get married here” I was impressed.

Even when he was posing for pictures with his husband, you could tell that he was happy.

After wrapping up at the Precinct, we rushed back home. When we got there, boom, everything was ready and people were all over the place including curious neighbors.
The deco was stunning in red and white. I loved how they made everything look intimate.
Proceedings started immediately after everyone was seated in nice round tables of 10 seats.
Mini platters with samoosa’s, small pieces of fried chicken and onion rings were placed amongst glamorous cutlery, and of course a bottle of champagne.

Before the programme director, Eric Motsema even started with the programme people started helping themselves with the food.
Then the official opening of the ceremony started by prayer led by female Pastor Ndlovu.

The process got disturbed for a while because Promise had to connect with his ancestors, since both newly weds are sangomas (traditional healers).
Eventually things got back to the programme, the Pastor mentioned “njengoba nilalana anihlukanga ndawo, okwenzakalayo phakathi kwenu ningakukhipheli ngaphandle ngoba kuyohamba nomoya, uthando luyabekezela.”
After the Pastor finished preaching, family and friends began sharing their thoughts, wishes and experiences they had with the couple.

The most moving message came from the mother of the bride, Mrs Shezi who spoke so fondly about the couple and her son Promise.  She confirmed to everyone that she supports and gives the two her blessings.

She went as far as saying “angizange ngitshele muntu ngalomcimbi, abantu abaningi nje engibabona lana ng’yaqala ukubabona. Abanye ngike ngababona emagcwabeni. Anginandaba ukuthi abantu bathini, uPromise ngumntwana wami, ukuthi omunye umuntu uthini anginandaba.”

You could tell who was there to see where ‘will this end.’
And you could also tell who was there to support, as there was a minority that was very shied away and not even willing to turn their faces towards the cameras.

Promise’s mother receiving a gift from the son-in-law, Gift…

Towards the end, the couple shared their wedding vows, flittering and so excited.
With a beautiful smile, Mpho made it clear that he “will always be there for Promise to comfort, love, honour and cherish” him at all times.
He also promised to be a true and faithful partner.

While Promise said he will comfort his husband in times of sorrow and struggle, to cherish and always hold him in highest regards.
The couple decided to use double barrel surnames for their union.
Then the couple cut the cake and fed each other.

The guests were smitten, and then it was time to pop the champagne.

The guests were served with variety of food between rice, pap, chicken, beef, fish and a number of salads.
I spotted a lot of exciting people, some of them were the former Miss Gay Daveyton, Lesiba Mothibe, and dancer Xoli Ntsebeza to mention a few.

L-R: Xoli, Xolani, Lesiba, Yaya & Thembi

The atmosphere was just beautiful, you know when people are happy, and that’s exactly what was happening there.
Inkanyiso media were the official documenters of the whole event.
Some well dressed persons wanted to shine, forgetting that it was Mpho and Promise’s moment.  All in all we had a great time.

About the author

Yaya Mavundla (25) is a writer, cultural activist and events organizer.
Previously worked with Exit and Miss Gay Lesbian Soweto.
Currently contributes to Inkanyiso media.