In most western countries, Gay pride has become a commercialised and celebratory occasion where people in the LGBTQI+ spectrum get to fully display and embrace their identity. In Malawi, it is a fight and act of resistance against anti-gay and anti-trans laws. Homosexuality is deemed a crime in the region and being caught means a…
Pulsing beats fill the space in a large well designed room. Practising dancers move to the tempo as Tarryn ‘TNT’ Alberts leads each move with her clear distinct voice. As I follow the instructions — though I am dismal at the dance — Tarryn’s kindness is an energetic force and at Nike’s training facility in…
For those who love, like or hope to take up reading, you might notice how quickly the book world has adapted especially for those who are Black and Queer. Black and Queer authors or those who are both, have slowly but surely been able to get their stories written and published. In the world of…
There are too many incidents to name that have acted as an obstacle and demotivator to the average South African person in the last two to three years. Sometimes we just want to set our sights on something a bit more positive, and indulge in something warm; something that feels like sunshine which is where…
2022 has been an eventful year for queer representation in both film and television and the year isn’t even over. Though we could always do with more queer rep, this year seems to be a slight improvement from 2021, especially in the field of mainstream entertainment. In this 2022 list, you’ll be able to watch…
From the world over, South Africa is known for its artistry and creativity. It’s how we communicate our stories, and it frequently links us to the past. In contrast, however, the arts are undervalued, undersupported and underfunded. Halls — one of the world’s most popular candy mint brands in the country — is helping the…
Wounding. Hurt. Abrasion. These are the synonyms for trauma. The concept of trauma carries a heavy weight and is usually seen through the lens of seriousness, discomfort and a very melancholic sadness – socially, this is how we have come to measure our own levels of empathy, pity or respect – given to ourselves and…
History of the emoji: An emoji set was created in 1999 by Japanese designer Shigetaka Kurita. This was in response to fulfill the need for a shorter way to communicate on a nascent mobile internet system. As the designer for the role, Kurita curated a 176 emoji system for a large telecom company named NTT…
“Redeemed and restored, love returns us to the promise of everlasting life. When we love we can let our hearts speak.” bell hooks, All About Love The United States of America is neither redeemed nor restored. The understanding of love, much less community is vapid. Its rhetoric of freedom for its people is a sort…
The South African inner city space has long represented the best of the country’s culture. After all, in the 80s and 90s, “rave and resistance” to quote filmmaker Zandi Tisani, were the order of the day and beneath the shiny veneers of everyday life, young South African culture makers continue to scrape back the city…
In the closing act of April — as we commemorated and celebrated National Freedom Day in South Africa — Bubblegum Club released our new cover feature spotlighting prolific designers Thebe Magugu and Wanda Lephoto in a piece titled: Collaborations of EVERYDAY RESISTANCE | Thebe Magugu and Wanda Lephoto. The cover feature also looked at the…
Genesis: the origin or mode of formation of something. For young people, nightlife events are much more than just places to dance and listen to music; they are also community hubs, second homes and spaces for creative thought, cultural development and expression. Nightlife events have been a breeding ground for cultural experimentation since the first…
