Womxn of the Month
Womxn of Soulitude ,Yamkelani Mabandla, is the phenomenal womxn who served as the Womxn Empowerment Manager on the SRC for 2017. She served on Irene’s HK under the Communications, Cluster and Culture portfolio and also as the Executive of the Students for Law and Social Justice Stellenbosch Branch for the last two years.
We sat down with her to chat about her interests, her love for KPOP and the womxn who inspire her. She also gives insight regarding what womxn empowerment means to her as she is actively involved on campus and shares a bit of advice to her successor for next year.
Q: FAVOURITE ARTIST RIGHT NOW?
A: Thandiswa Mazwai has reemerged in my life in a big way right now. She. Is. Everything. Since forever she has been doing the damns!!! And now I find that her music resonates with me on a deeper level. She's timeless.
Q: HOW DID YOU GET INTO KPOP/KDRAMAS?
A: My friend and fellow KPOP-lover, Karabo, showed a photo of an always gorgeous Jeonghan from the group SEVENTEEN and I thought he was so sublime... so I watched a Music Video for SEVENTEEN and I fell in love with the entire world of Korean Music. Thereafter It has been a glorious abyss of joy. Similarly, Korean Dramas have such rich story-lines. The quality, talent, character and aesthetic of both the music and dramas, is precious. I appreciate the creation of it all.
Q: WHAT DOES WOMXN EMPOWERMENT MEAN TO YOU?
A: To me Womxn Empowerment is the revolution of humanity; it is our resistance against a falling sky and the obliteration of oppressions. It is the rise and fall of the human spirit and the oxygen in our communities. Womxn empowerment is liberation. It is equal and equitable opportunities for marginalized persons. Womxn empowerment is intersectional. Womxn Empowerment is the freedom of a poor black queer and disabled transwomxn. It's understanding that the injustice against one womxn is an injustice against us all. The freedom of womxn means the freedom of all womxn. Womxn Empowerment is understanding our varying positions of privilege and using them to be allies; It is an active allyship that doesn't seek praise. Braaaah!!! Womxn empowerment is the strength and vulnerability of the womxn I've encountered. It's our collective wrath and our shared joys. It's us imagining a better world even if everything around us proves the contrary.
Q: DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS?
A: Proud. Playful. Strong.
Q: INSPIRATIONAL WOMXN ON YOUR RADAR RIGHT NOW?
A: Nationally I am so in awe of all the womxn who have been involved in student activism over the last three years. I am particularly appreciative of the womxn who've lead in Stellenbosch; it's been a totally different context here. Anyway, these womxn taught me everything I know about intersectionality and I am honored to have met them. Definitely these last three years have been vital in better understanding myself and my communities. I have experienced great inspiration, encouragement, correction, love and unrivaled support from these Queens. MALIBONGWE IGAMA LAMAKHOSIKAZI!!! Internationally I will always, always be so thankful for the life of Serena Williams.
Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE NEXT SRC WOMXN EMPOWERMENT MANAGER?
A: A stable network of collaborators has been established over the last two years. Use them wisely, strengthen them and continue to establish new relationships with various stakeholders. It is imperative to continue to work with students and to grow intersectionality. Womxn Empowerment is not something to monopolize- so support other individuals, organizations or societies who have womxn empowerment initiatives.
To all the womxn of Stellenbosch: YOU. ARE. ENOUGH.
Yamkelani just got elected as a participant for the World Youth Forum in Egypt in November of this year and is definitely a womxn making moves. Womxn of Soulitude wishes you all the best!