Busisekile Khumalo

“Busisekile Khumalo”

“Every piece I create is a testament to the power and resilience of women in our society”

“I refuse to be confined by social expectations and deliberately tackle topics that many shy away from, such as sexual liberation, agency, mental health and the complexities of self-love and self-discovery”

“My writing serves as a love letter to African women, celebrating our diverse experiences”

“I strive to ensure that every African woman can see herself in my work, one story at a time”

“I reclaim my power as a woman writing in South Africa by writing the stories I wish I had encountered while growing up”

“It involves rising above the ever-increasing expectations and absurd standards that people claim to understand”

“In South Africa today, being a woman means being celebrated for living your authentic self — until that self no longer fits the mould others have created for you”

“We are pressured to project a perfect image of smiles, confidence and “queen energy” for the ‘Gram, yet we often find ourselves subjected to harsh scrutiny in the comments”

“While social media offers an illusion of connection and a sense of community, I believe women are more isolated than ever”

“At work, one must often adopt a bold and authoritative demeanour to be taken seriously, and often revert to a more subdued and subservient role at home”

“Being a woman today involves navigating numerous obstacles, gatekeeping, and micro-aggressions we face in workplaces, places of worship and even in our homes”

“If I were to write a chapter about what it means to be a woman in contemporary South Africa, I would title it “Rising Above””