October 2015 | Issue 3
ONLINE MAGAZINE FOR LGBTI OF COLOUR
GAYLE
ONLINE MAGAZINE FOR LGBTI OF COLOUR
CONTENTS DIE GEITE IS LOS DIE MAAND 3 FLATS FILM FEST GOES GAY 4 BROWN GIRLS ARE BOSS: DOPE SAINT JUDE 7 DRANGONY AUNT ANSWERS YOUR QUEERIES 8 NAKHANE TOURÉ’S GOT THE WRITE STUFF 10 KIERON JINA GIVES US A PRIVATE SHOW 12 COOKING GERTY MIXES A COCKTAIL
ON THE COVER
The Flats Festivall of Film kicks off this month – but no patsy is complete without the gerties. As I Am by Joburgbased Sihle Hlophe is one of the queer movies being showed at the fest taking place (Oct 22 – 25)
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s I Am, a short film from director Sihle Hlophe, highlights the complexities of dealing with homosexuality in the traditional African context and explores the intricacies of gender and culture – and it is all in siSwati. Hlophe’s debut non-fiction film follows the lives of two brothers, Mlungisi and Ndumiso, after their father dies. It is not clear if Mlungisi, the eldest brother, is gay and Ndumiso uses this to attempt to overthrow him as the head of the family. Mlungisi was particularly close to his father, because he accepted him the way that he was – a fact that only causes further tension between the brothers. For more information about the Flats Festivall of Film (schedule and venues), email flatsfest@gmail.com.
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BROWN BAAS GNGG ROWNN G TINGNG
Images by Jabu Newman/@intellectualangel
“I have been called a kaffir many times… …before. I have been directly scarred by this… …word and I chose to subvert what it meant to… …me growing up.” ..
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ON THE COVER
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here’s a new baas in town. But, she’s not white, white collared or even white wannabe … and did we mention she’s a SHE? Fuck what you know about power dynamics in South African, rapper/humanitarian/fashion girl/academic Catherine Pretorius (better known as by her stage name, Dope Saint Jude) is reclaiming her rightful place – ready or not. We chat about her new single, global dominance and why brown girls are best
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Your mission is to empower "brown girls" in South Africa, why this particular group (as opposed to all girls, or brown people at large)? That is not my entire mission, but a large part of it. I would say because I am a brown girl and I know that life best. What are some of the activities you are involved in to carry this out? I used to work with the Intombi Workshop. I am currently signing up to a project that pushes this agenda.
I hope that there is room for all of our stories and experiences in the media. What makes you most uncomfortable about the way that your community is represented in the mainstream media? It is not the way people are depicted, but rather the types of stories that are told. As a human race, we are complicated and multifaceted and this should be reflected in the media.
How does music support this?
How are you hoping your music and videos will change this?
Music is a universal language, and it is the best way to communicate what we want.
I hope they entertain and that they make people ask the necessary questions.
How does your musical persona advocate for the empowerment of the brown girl?
You recently got a shout out from M.I.A's drummer on Instagram, how doesn't it feel knowing that your music resonates with audiences beyond our borders?
I don’t claim that it does, but I hope it does. Dope Saint Jude’s fearless & resilient, something I hope we all can be. Are you very different from your musical persona in real life? If so, how? We are quite similar, although I can be quite shy.
I definitely feel flattered, but it also feels natural that my music would resonate with other girls like me. Do you think you'd have achieved this level of success musically without the internet? Why or why not?
Why do you think rap music is such a political tool? It is a powerful media force and a huge influence on pop culture, and by virtue of this, it is a political tool. How has rap personally influenced your perspective on your place in the world? It has given me much greater insight into the lived realities of other people across the world. Your latest single is arguably your most hardest hitting, tackling the socioeconomic position of "previously disadvantaged" people head on and not through humour, why this shift in tone? I am multifaceted, with lots of different stories and voices and this is reflected in my music. Your use of the k-word made people uncomfortable in a sense that you don't necessarily come from a community directly affected by it, yet you choose to claim it as an empowerment tactic. Could you explain your logic? I have been called a kaffir many times before. I have been directly scarred by this word and I chose to subvert what it meant to me growing up. What is your overall aim in shifting ideas of blackness in South Africa, particularly in the media space?
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I would hope so, but the internet has made it possible for all voices to be heard. How does this technology influence the way you make music and videos? It has only elevated and added a new dynamic to both the content and the access of the music. Would you become more commercial to appeal to an international audience? Why or why not (in relation to your mission)? My interest is to make music that resonates with me and that people enjoy too. I want my music to appeal to a large audience and I will find a way to do that and make music I believe in. The whole argument around “commercial” and “underground” is a tired and outdated notion to me. What are some of your career ambitions? Any spaces that you'd like to infiltrate? I would like to travel abroad with my music and do more collaborations with artists I respect. What would be the ultimate achievement for you? To tick off all the things on my life’s to-do list. And, I am steady on my way.
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WARNING: This retired old drag queen has seen (and drank) enough to gayle it like it is! For those brave enough to, send all your Dragony Aunt questions to gaylemag2015@gmail.com
Dear Dragony Aunt I have been with my boyfriend for four years. We’ve always had a very good sexual relationship until my boyfriend insisted we have a threesome with this black guy who had a TITANIC dick. Since then, my boyfriend bought this huge black dildo and he insists that I fuck him with it. Now, I consider myself a big boy but I cannot compete with this HORSE HUNG THING … or this black guy. So when I eventually fuck him, I can’t feel a thing and he doesn’t appear to enjoy it. I am beginning to feel inadequate as a bf and I think my boyfriend might cheat on me with this black guy?
Dear you Now, do you see this is why threesomes are not for every relationship? Did you agree to the threesome or were you sort of forced? According to what aunty is seeing, you were forced by an overly horny homosexual. I am sorry for you but you have just OPENED the proverbial PANDORA’S box – or what I would like to call it the MANDORA’S box. Your horny boyfriend – or the size queen that she is – should have never forced you to have sex with this man. It was his MANTASY, not yours; and while he thinks there is nothing wrong with this, you were clearly left out in the cold. I would suggest that you take balls by the horn and confront your bf. You clearly love him and would do anything for him – even entertaining his jas ways – but you need to stand up for yourself. Be honest about how he makes you feel with this BBC (aka big black cock) and how you felt forced into the threesome. At first, your bf might be shocked that you are doing this, but that is fine. You are in a relationship and this ship’s captain seems to be your bf. He already led you to an iceberg but now it will be captained by the two of you. I believe it’s not too late to save this relationship, if that is what you guys want. Otherwise you need to ask yourself if being abused by this man is worth it. If not, then you tell that horny bf of yours that she and her BBC needs to go. It’s hard, but you can do it.
*Dragony Aunt is not a professional psychologist, be sure as hell knows how to tell it like it is.
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ON THE COVER
TOURE
NAKHANE
With (probably) the hottest track on the radio right now, a recently released novel and a debut album that made international waves. GAYLE zooms in on this SAMA-winning writer and musician
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f Frank Ocean had a love child with Bob Dylan, his name would be Nakhane Touré. Soulful and bluesy with a rock and roll edge, old school yet modern; his sound is indefinable yet distinctive at the same time. When Ocean released his highly anticipated debut album Channel ORANGE it caused quite a stir in the pop music scene for its openly gay lyrics. But then the album went on to be a big seller and became one of the most critically acclaimed albums of 2012. Ocean paved the way for popular musicians to come out into the limelight without the fear of rejection from the seemly homophobic world. One of such artist is Eastern Cape born singer-songwriter Nakhane Mahlakahlaka (Touré is a moniker he took on as homage to Malian music legend Ali Farka Touré) who has garnered critical acclaim both locally and internationally for his boy on boy love song titled “Christopher”. “Christopher” was the lead single and opening track from his debut album Brave Confusion. It was a sincere ode to his real life lover Christopher that mixes shifting synthesizers with a simplistic folk tune. His music is a melting pot of genres that are as diversified as the South African rainbow nation itself. The album was a 13-track acoustic journey into the life of a confused twenty-something-year-old trying hard to find himself and find answers to life’s biggest questions – for him, anyways.
From questioning faith and religion to singing about love, sexuality and even drugs, Touré was not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve – and this earned him a South African Music Award for Best Alternative Album last year. Touré’s latest offering, a collaboration with house deejay Black Coffee’s called “We Dance Again”, has transformed into a social media dance challenge which not only saw the likes of Cassper Nyovest, Somizi Mhlongo and Okmalumkookat responding, but many all over the world. He is currently working on his next album, but has released a novel in the meantime. Called Piggy Boy’s Blues, it is the first novel to be published under Jacana Media’s new imprint BlackBird Books, which will focus on black writers and black stories. While there are gay characters in the book, Touré did not want the story to be one that focuses on homosexuality – in an effort to “normalise” it. At the Open Book Festival, he said he did not want to write another story about a young gay man rejected by his family who ends up living on the street and working as a prostitute. Piggy Boy’s Blues is about a royal Xhosa family that is passed its prime. The lead character, a guy named Davide, leaves the big city to go to a rural village in the Eastern Cape called Alice for peace of mind – but all hell breaks loose! Piggy Boy’s Blues is available at most book stores.
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ON THE COVER
KIERON What made you pursue a career in dance? From a very young age, growing up in KwaZulu-Natal, I remember dancing between the sugarcane fields and or many LGBTI people, rise social scaringthe away theofcrows with laughter on it mythe face.possibility Who wouldto have thought media brought with that years later, I would be traveling to build online communities where international counties to express members can openly express themselves myself through dance and represent without the fear ofSouth being attacked by a scale. At Africa on a global grossly homophobic society. The dream finding to dance university, I was of introduced love outside of smoky theory gay bars rooms andand the dark body’s ability to move, became more of a reality, along with all create meaning, breaththeand suggest honeymoon phase perksexpression. afforded toI heterosexual continue to learn and couples: public displays of affect via profile pictures, 'cook' my ideas every day. Check out relationship status updates and "Weekend my website to see theAway creative journey: with Hubby" Facebook albums. In fact, gay dating www.kieronjina.com site Gindr estimates that three in five gay couples you feel danceforis a good tool first met on social media.Why Whiledothe possibilities for creating awareness or change? Dance is a powerful medium that can transport both performer and spectator into an imaginative and magical world.
Plus, dance can initiate much needed conversation surrounding social taboos. Dance is also a universal language of the body and can reflect certain truths about the societies we live in. With the rise of oppressive policies and homophobic attitudes across the continent, it has never been more important to research, discuss and understand this criticised and disparaged queer industry. How can dance or the arts be effective when these spaces are still quite exclusive in terms of where these galleries and theatres are and the cost? You have to move away from the traditional white cube – which is a gallery – and theatres that exclude certain audiences. You must get out there and do site-specific productions and use alternative spaces. Take your art to the public. Take your protest to the public. Bridge the gap between art the audiences that you are hoping to reach. If you are dealing with violence against women and are focusing on the taxi drivers who are intolerant toward girls who were
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JINA If you are dealing with violence against women and are focusing on the taxi drivers who are intolerant toward girls who wear miniskirts, you need to perform at a taxi rank. That’s where in will be most effective because you will create awareness which then leads to asking questions – interrogation. You are in the process of creating a new work, tell us about it. Where and when can we expect to see it? I am currently exploring queer identity and African male sexuality. I am working on two pieces that will be out next year, 2016.
If queer means strange, unusual, or not expected, Kieron Jina is definitely that. GAYLE looks at how this performance artist is breaking ground with dance nliterally. takes a look at the dangers of online dating
human body, in itself, is androgynous. This will come out around June next year. The other is a duet or quartet that will come out late next year. It deals with homophobia, but specifically by men who sleep with men. So basically, men who are homophobic out in public but are having sex with men behind closed doors. I’ve been exploring the queer identity for the past three years. I find that I need to be that powerful voice representing the queer community.
One is a solo that focuses on androgyny which is two sexes in one – whether in the way one dresses or behaves. For example: growing up in a coloured community in Durban, we were taught that sitting with your legs crossed was feminine; while if your legs are slightly open and crossed, it is masculine. I want to explore and play with the how the human body, in itself, in This will be out around June next year.
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Easy
SUMMER’S HERE – AND IT’S GOING TO BE A SCORCHER! WHAT BETTER WAY TO QUENCH YOUR THIRST THAN WITH A GOOD COCKTAIL. HERE ARE THREE REALLY EASY RECIPES
COCKTAILS via firstwefeast.com
WOO WOO Woo woo is a cocktail lounge favourite, but you can make this easily from home too and it’s cheaper. Here’s how. INGREDIENTS: 25ml peach schnapps, 25ml vodka and 50ml cranberry juice. METHOD: Simple! Mix them together, add the vodka and peach schnapps first, followed by the cranberry juice. Enjoy!
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LEMON DROP Everyone needs a bit of lemon in their life once in a while. Who knows, this might even count towards your five a day? INGREDIENTS: 50ml vodka, 50ml lemon juice, 1 tablespoon sugar and lemonade. METHOD: Once again, it all gets shaken up apart from the lemonade; just use that to top up your glass once you’ve poured it in!
FLUFFY DUCK Who doesn’t want to drink a drink with name like this? And it’s yellow? Who even cares what it tastes like? INGREDIENTS: 25ml advocaat, 25ml white rum, 25ml cream, lemonade. METHOD: Mix up the rum, cream and advocat with a sprinkling of vigour and the pop it in a glass and top up with lemonade. For an extra twist you can replace the cream with ice cream. Trust us on this one.
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