FOCUS
Thobe and Phila I, Pietermaritzburg. KwaZulu Natal, 2012, © Zanele Muholi
INDIVIDUALS IN ZANELE’S WORK HAVE THEIR OWN LIVES AND VOICES. THE LIFE STORY BELOW IS THAT OF PHILA MBANJWA I Phila Mbanjwa, am one of the craziest people I know! I am a
nal Assistant and learning the ropes at a Non-Governmental Or-
young black lesbian woman and pride myself in knowing whom I
ganisation (NGO). I am university drop out. I was studying Public
love and who I want to share my life, soul and body with. Yes I love
Relations and I got bored. The course didn’t challenge me the way
women and they love me. I believe I have a voice to speak for the
I wanted it to. I’m now thinking of doing Electrical Engineering or I
coming generation. I’m here to make my mark and believe me I
will maybe become a doctor.
will. I want people to know me as this person who conquered and
I love writing poetry, compiling scripts, short stories, reading,
carried on conquering. I love to believe that I got spunk, a lot of it.
going out and window shopping… not just clothes window shop-
I capture people’s hearts, eyes, and smiles. I’m a very humble and
ping! I am talking about window shopping for women...(laughs). I
understanding person but when push comes to shove I lose control
love women. I especially love mature women, women who know
but I cover that with that mischievous grin and humble smile that
what they want in life, love and relationships.
has become my facade.
I’m a female - that’s my gender, I’m a lesbian - that’s my sexua-
I was born in Dambuza, an informal settlement just outside Pie-
lity, the fact that I’m a lesbian does not make me less of a woman
termaritzburg, and I was born at home, early hours of the 15th of
or trying to be male. Yes, I am a lesbian but I am not my sexuality.
July in 1990, yes I am a freedom baby. I live in Edendale, a few ki-
Every time I introduce myself to someone I don’t have to say “Hi
lometres from Dambuza with my 4 sisters, 8 cousins, and 1 brother.
I’m Phila I’m a lesbian”. No! that does not define me. Ja ngistabane
My father passed away in 1997 and ten years laterIlost my mother.
(yes I am gay) I love women but at the end of the day I’m a woman.
It was a devastating decade for my family, but we carried on living.
I’m a femme lesbian that does not make me bisexual, I love butch,
I’m currently working as my informal adoptive father’s Perso-
trans, and femme lesbians with a butch personality. I usually take
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