Interiority

I wanted to speak to Professor Pitika Ntuli after realising how ignored and absent the voices of the elders are on this podcast. Audre Lorde said “If the younger members of a community view the older members as contemptible or suspect or excess, they will never be able to join hands and examine the living memories of a community, nor ask the all important question, “Why?”. This gives rise to a historical amnesia that keeps us working to invent the wheel every time we have to go the store for bread.” There couldn’t be a better case for seeking out the voice of our elders. I sat down this activist, artist, academic and poet who follows in the tradition of the ‘Renaissance Man’, Professor Pitika Ntuli is a true artistic, political and academic polymath.

2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the 1995 UN Conference on Women which took place in Beijing, China. This was one of the most important gatherings to address equal rights and opportunities for all women and girls, everywhere. Among the 30,000 activists from 189 countries gathered to debate what it would take to make a gender-equal world, was a 24 year old gender non-conforming lesbian activist Black South African woman Bev Ditsie. Speaking on behalf of the lesbian caucus, she made history, addressing the plenary urging the UN delegates to adopt resolutions recognising sexual diversity and the inclusion of lesbian rights in discussions about the empowerment and upliftment of women. This was a revolutionary moment and will forever be known as the most successful lesbian visibility campaign in herstory. Prior to the conference Bev was one of the founders of GLOW; a gay rights organisation, which amongst other things organised the first Pride march in Johannesburg. She is an activist, filmmaker and speaker. Her latest work is a documentary that revisits the events of that historic address and it's titled Lesbians Free Everyone - A Beijing retrospect. Dr Bev Ditsie has devoted her life to fighting for human rights, ultimately so that all of us have an opportunity to be our most full selves.

2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the 1995 UN Conference on Women which took place in Beijing, China. This was one of the most important gatherings to address equal rights and opportunities for all women and girls, everywhere. Among the 30,000 activists from 189 countries gathered to debate what it would take to make a gender-equal world, was a 24 year old gender non-conforming lesbian activist Black South African woman Bev Ditsie. Speaking on behalf of the lesbian caucus, she made history, addressing the plenary urging the UN delegates to adopt resolutions recognising sexual diversity and the inclusion of lesbian rights in discussions about the empowerment and upliftment of women. This was a revolutionary moment and will forever be known as the most successful lesbian visibility campaign in herstory. Prior to the conference Bev was one of the founders of GLOW; a gay rights organisation, which amongst other things organised the first Pride march in Johannesburg. She is an activist, filmmaker and speaker. Her latest work is a documentary that revisits the events of that historic address and it's titled Lesbians Free Everyone - A Beijing retrospect. Dr Bev Ditsie has devoted her life to fighting for human rights, ultimately so that all of us have an opportunity to be our most full selves.

Interiority host Azania Mosaka was invited to be in conversation with one of the most exciting artists of our time; internationally acclaimed South African artist, Nelson Makamo. Nelson has exhibited in several major cities around the world and his work is featured in public and in some of the most astute private collections. Who can forget the historic moment of the 2019 publication of his artwork as the cover story of Time Magazines’ The art of optimism Issue. This recording was in front of a live audience made up of journalists. This gathering was to celebrate Nelson Makamo 15 years as a professional artist and his return to showcasing his work in South Africa once more after walking away from gallery representation 5 years ago. He makes his return with an expansive exhibition of his signature charcoal style and something we haven't seen from him before; water colour works. He also returns with the launch of a collaborative art space; Botho Project Space which is set to inspire and challenge the business of art. Nelson Makamo's work cleanses the doors of perception, changing how we see the world, how we see ourselves and how we are seen.

Lulu Mlangeni, is the Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance 2020. Amongst her many achievements is her time as Creative Assistant at Vuyani Dance Theatre, which is one of the top dance companies in Africa. Lulu is the recipient of several awards that celebrate her contribution to the world of dance. When she is on stage it feels as if very little else exists. Her storytelling is compelling, her dancing arresting. She continues to grow in the industry and sets no limits for herself.

Laduma Ngxokolo is a South African textile and knitwear designer, best known for his knitwear designs inspired by traditional Xhosa beadwork and aesthetic. As a young boy, Laduma loved the sense of charisma that Xhosa initiates exuded after their initiation, and he daydreamed about becoming an initiate himself. Born to an attentive loving resourceful mother who was a knitwear designer, his destiny was forged in these two influences. His thesis for his BTech degree was titled: how can traditional Xhosa aesthetics be interpreted into contemporary knitwear for Xhosa initiates? He has gone on to create a design house which embodies pride and luxury. Today Laduma is one of Africa's finest knitwear designers & innovators creating pieces that are coveted across the world. His interiority is on full display. His work is more than design, it’s more than a feeling, it’s what his designs allow us to know. I caught up with Laduma at his lively office as the day was winding down.

In 1991 the South African schooling system desegregated and historically white schools opened up and accepted children of all races. The first black students in these schools seemed to live up to their place in history. They populated the school awards ceremonies, became prefects and notice boards with black, African names featured for the first time. This was seen as a victory. In 2015, the generation of students who followed the 80s cohort into previously white schools led a nation-wide protest movement which would become known as #FeesMustFall. For this 90s cohort who entered universities, the reality of an untransformed society hit. They called for free education, increased funding to universities, the removal of colonial and apartheid statues, and the decolonization of education. If that was the fight of the 90s cohort, where does that leave the “victory” of the previous generation, the 80s cohort which was the first to enter previously white schools? What did it mean to be a black body, a guinea pigs in the desegregation of the South African schooling system? Award-winning news and current affairs editor, journalist, gender rights activist, speaker, and social commentator, Nolwazi Tusini delivers an edited version of her Ruth First Lecture titled The 80s kids: A story of collaboration as disruption. The lecture is based on her research on the first generation of black children to enter desegregated multi-racial schools in South Africa.

Welcome to Part 2 of the Interiority podcast episode with Broadcast maven Penny Lebyane. In part 1 Penny didn’t hold back any punches, giving her brutally honest opinion on the state of media and its trappings. She opened up about the impact of the marginalization she experienced. Listen to stories of her upbringing and lessons along her journey. Come along in Part 2 where she talks about her journey of healing, the fallacy of celebrity, raising children in the limelight, and dating challenges as a headstrong woman.

Vivacious, spirited, strong and fierce are words that immediately come to mind when I think about Interiority guest, broadcaster Penny Lebyane. She has had a radio career spanning 25 years as a radio host. She has served not only radio well but also television, fashion, the arts, and pop culture. As a young woman in her radio career, she inspired and helped shape the industry for women to come, but she also had to kick down many doors and where there wasn’t a door to kick, she builds her own. She was told to “tone down” and “be a lady", and when she didn’t, she was marginalized and labeled. She is one of the realest! When she is not on radio or television, or raising her two children, she does advocacy work for the upliftment of women.

We are excited about our latest format. There are singers! Then, there are singer-songwriters. Those with a gift to turn human emotion and experience into poetic song. The songs reveal the artist's inner world, who they are and what was going on when they wrote it. The song lives beyond them. It immortalises them. We make these songs our own. We let the song speak for us, soothe us, reveal us. Singer-songwriter, Langa Mavuso opens up about what led to him writing 3 of his songs. Listen to the stories of what lies behind Sunday Blues, Mvula, and Love Lost.

When Andiswa Gebashe was a child, she was enamored with the 90s musical drama Sarafina, and just like Leleti Khumalo’s character, she daydreamed of someday becoming president. Little did she know that someday she would be a messenger of his words to the deaf community. With over a decade of working as a sign language interpreter, she has become a staple on South African television screens. She has signed for the SA President, cabinet ministers, US President Barack Obama, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and on arts stages interpreting arresting works to the deaf communities. Andiswa is advancing sign language across different platforms and she is on an adventure of lifetime.

In his book Becoming him: A Trans Memoir of Triumph, Landa Mabenge shares his life story of being born in the wrong body. He is taken from his grandparent’s loving home to be raised by parents who subject him to horrific physical, emotional and psychological abuse. After years of emotional turmoil Landa finds the courage to live truthfully and undertakes a four year long journey of gender alignment to becoming him. He makes history by becoming the first known transgender man in South Africa to successfully motivate a medical aid to pay for his surgeries through the Groote Schuur Transgender Clinic. He now lives in his truth, free, with a full command over his identity and life. Landa takes us into his journey of Becoming Him. He generously shares with us his road to forgiveness and acceptance after a tumultuous childhood.

After our conversation, Lebo said: “Every time I think of our interview I smile and get excited for what is coming. If all interactions with artists could be like his, more people would care about and also understand what we do”. We continue to go within with Lebo Mashile as she shares where her work comes from and the power of vulnerability. And our musings on the pandemic and the significance of this moment.

We kick-off Interiority with award-winning writer, presenter, actress, and activist Lebo Mashile who undoubtedly belongs in the pantheon of Africa’s finest poets. After all, poetry is the language of the interior. In Part 1, Lebo reflects on the creative industry, what does it really mean to be a warrior and her creative arsenal. We explore how blackness and black love have shaped her.

Interiority Intro by The quality of being focused on one's inner life and identity.