Zanele Muholi was born in Umlazi, Durban, in 1972 and lives in Johannesburg. As a gender and sexual rights activist, and as a photographer, she confronts the notion that lesbian practices are alien to African cultures, and offers a radical break from stereotypical narratives about black female sexualities.
Visit the links below for more info about Muholi and her work:
Five Questions from Jolie du Pre, editor of Iridescence, for Tawanna Sullivan, author of The Getaway.
1. Why do you write erotica?
While revising submission guidelines for my webzine (Kuma2.net), I thought about the themes and scenarios I wanted to see more of. It hit me–why not try writing the stories that I wanted to read?
2. What do you like best about lesbian erotica?
Well, I get bombarded with images of hetero sex (real or implied) nearly 24/7, so lesbian erotica is refreshing to me. Characters that I can usually relate to are at the center of the action.
3. What is the theme of your story The Getaway in Iridescence: Sensuous Shades of Lesbian Erotica?
In The Getaway, Sarah and Nicole try to redeem an incredibly bad day by taking an improptu trip. I suppose the theme would be sticking together.
4. Name some other books where we can find your work.
Published stories include The Souvenir in Hot + Bothered 4 and Homecoming in Longing, Love, and Lust: Black Lesbian Stories. I also have Sufficient As I Am, a nonfiction essay, in Spirited: Affirming the Soul and Black Gay/Lesbian Identity.
5. Just for fun! Gym Shoes or Stilettos?
Given that choice–gym shoes all the way. I’m really more the steel toe, oil-resistant workboot type.
The next stop on The Iridescence Blog Tour is Isabelle Gray aka R. Gay – June 27, 2007.
Back by popular demand, “The Engagement” stage play is returning for a 6 week run starting June 15. Performances sold out last year, so take advantage of our advance ticket specials during Pride Month, June 2007.
This is a story everyone can relate to and one you don’t want to miss. Spread the word, forward to your friends, family and colleagues.
The Engagement:
Faith and Déjà are ready to march toward the longest journey of their lives-marriage. However, their fanfare wedding ceremony won’t take place without a hitch, including interfering family, friends, and lovers. The brother-in-law, a closet homophobe; Faith’s older sister who is disillusioned with marriage; the ex-girlfriend who left Faith for a man but will stop at nothing to win her back; and the best friend, Nicole, a straight girl with abandonment issues- or is she? Add to the mix a “holy war” over gay marriage rights between relatives and guests after the rehearsal dinner and you have…
The Engagement, a classic love triangle with a twist…
Wings Theater
154 Christopher St
New York, NY
(Greenwich Village) Thu Fri Sat @ 8pm
Sun @ 3pm
Extra performances during Pride Week: Wed June 20 @ 8pm
Sun June 24 @ 6:30
General Admission @ box office $35
Advance purchases online @ $25
Kuma is on vacation for the month of June and will return with a full update on July 15.
In the meantime, bop on over to Skye’s blog and check out her recent posts.
DATE: Jun 12, 2007
TIME: 7:00pm
PRICE: Free
LOCATION: World Financial Center Plaza
Skillfully crafted and emotionally raw lyrics coupled with passionate music is the hallmark of acclaimed Grammy®-nominated artist Joan Armatrading, who has been singing out universal truths for over 35 years.
PHONE: 212-945-0505
[Her shows are always (always!) packed with beautiful black women in the audience.]
Host: Kimberly “Q” aka The Lesbian Goddess
Location: Billie’s Black (271 W. 119th St., Btn 8th and St. Nicholas, New York, NY)
When: Thursday, June 14, 7:00pm
Phone: 2122523398
Come join The Lesbian Goddess for her New York Book Signing at the sensual Billie’s Black Lounge & Restaurant! Come purchase your copies of Orchids African American Lesbian Erotica One Night Stands & Orchids II Reality or Fantasy! Indulge yourself in the tantalizing “Orchids” cocktail and mingle with the sensual and erotic! Spread the word and saunter into the zone!
Check out www.womenofchoice.com and
www.billiesblack.com
Torch: poetry, prose, and short stories by African American Women / www.torchpoetry.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Open June 1 to August 31
Spread the word. Please forward and post widely.
Torch was established to promote the work of African American women. We provide a place to celebrate contemporary poetry, prose, short stories and artwork by experienced and emerging artists alike. We prefer our contributors to take risks and offer a diverse body of work that examines and challenges preconceived notions regarding race, ethnicity, gender roles, and identity.
Some previously featured contributors to Torch are Sharon Bridgforth, Shia Shabazz, Patricia Smith, Remica L. Bingham, Lenelle Moïse, Metta Sama, Ana-Maurine Lara, Venus Thrash, Wura Ogunji and Rachel Eliza Griffiths.
Submission guidelines.
Submit only previously unpublished work.
Simultaneous submissions are not accepted
Poetry: send three to seven poems (max 40 lines each). Poems should be individually typed on separate pages. Email submission as one MS Word attachment with the subject line ‘Poetry Submission’ to poetry@torchpoetry.
Prose: send two prose pieces (max 500 words each). Prose and should be double-spaced. Email submission as one MS Word attachment with the subject line ‘Prose Submission’ to prose@torchpoetry.
Short Stories: send one short story (max 2,000 words). Email submission as one MS Word attachment with the subject line ‘Short Story Submission’ to
shorts@torchpoetry.
Photography & Art: send three to seven high resolution JPEG images. Email submission with the subject line ‘Art Submission’ to art@torchpoetry.
Warmly,
Amanda Johnston
Founding Editor
HIP HOP SESSIONS
FOR SISTAHS
Who You/We Calling a *ITCH or HOE and Why?
Sat. JUNE 16, 2007 6:00 PM
AT: Specktrums Afrikans (Sista Zul’s Space)
30 Central Ave. (above Central Ave. Deli)
Newark, NJ
The National Million Woman March will host several “Lift Every Voice” Hip-Hop Sessions for Sistahs beginning in June 2007 (Black Music Month) especially for females (and brothers can of course attend too) who want to dialog, strategize, and take action to seriously address the issue of exploitation, misogyny, stereotypic, negative depictions and imagery, etc. of women and girls of African descent.
The Hip Hop Sessions for Sistahs, will provide a forum for frank and open dialog and provide a on going vehicle to assist in the necessary critiquing and operational assessments that Black females of all ages, and the community at large, can engage in. Participants will have the opportunity to express their views and consolidate a national plan of action.
If you are interested in volunteering, or for more information call: 267-299-6424 or e-mail mwmsistahood@aol.com
For Newark contact: Munirah at 973-818-4460 or e-mail mofunk04@aol.com
MWM Position:
If an Artist finds it necessary to degrade our Sisters and refer to us in an inappropriate and non-acceptable manner, then we (Black women) find it necessary not to purchase their CD’s, tapes, DVD’s, tickets to their concerts, etc
Imagine Being in a room… encircled by walls that are screens (made of cloth) with small altars in corners — made of dirt and water and projected images — you are part of a Living story/unfolding with the author present/as Narrator/as participant & Witness with you in a world of projected images and sound that fills the surrounding enfolding breathing Space… http://loveconjureblues.com/sneakpeak
love conjure/blues is a performance/novel published by RedBone Press. It is a raucous gender bending/jook joint singing/Prayer circling/Liberation minded/deep loving fun piece that explores sexuality, a range of gender expressions and “the blues” as ritual. THE love conjure/blues text installation is a multi media production that includes LIVE narration by the author (Sharon Bridgforth). Bridgforth and Jen Simmons (a writer, director and designer whose work lives in the liminal spaces between the convergence of film, live performance, and the web) have created and will install an envirnoment that Bridgforth will narrate LIVE inside of/with the audience as witness-participants.
CONJURE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS
THE love conjure/blues text installation
THE OFF CENTER 2211-A Hidalgo in Austin, TX 78702
JUNE 15, 7PM OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE/
JUNE 16 & 17 2PM & 7PM Sliding Scale $8-$15
JUNE 21, 22 & 23 7PM Sliding Scale $8-$15
Tickets available at the door. For more information go to:
http://loveconjureblues.com
A DIFFERENT LIGHT BOOKSTORE
LA Reading
8853 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA
310.854.6601
Monday, September 17, 2007
7:30 p.m.
Jolie du Pre, Jolene Hui, Andrea Dale, Fiona Zedde, Nan Andrews
