Overview

The early 2000s were still a time of optimism and exuberance in newly democratic South Africa. Transformations were afoot, and there was a courageous desire for change, even with the stark realities of HIV and AIDS-related illnesses looming. At the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban in 2000, Nkosi Johnson, aged 11, took the stage to give an impassioned speech emphasizing the importance of young people in responding to the AIDS pandemic. His call heralded an explosion of youth-focused initiatives, including the project that started this book. In My life follows the paths of a group of racially diverse young AIDS activists from Khayelitsha and Atlantis, first brought together as part of an educational HIV-prevention programme in Cape Town in 2002. Over the next twenty years, we follow their inspiring and harrowing journeys, as they move from hopeful and passionate teen activists, through the tragedies and triumphs of transitioning to adulthood. With candour, they tell stories of hardships and loss, mental health issues, grief and violence, but also of personal transformations, love, friendship, artistic achievements, community connection and thrilling social justice wins. Connected to each other, and to their communities, their stories provide a glimpse into the long tale of activism and of educational work, forever asking the question: what difference does it make. As the early post-apartheid enthusiasm and activism transformed and changed, stories have been a place where one could find solace and refuge, or find ways to be connected again. The stories in In My Life reflect the shifting times and context in South Africa, the transformation of the country and the complicated life stories of everyday life in the cracks of those who are artists, writers, creators, activists, researchers, teachers and many other things in between and beyond.

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9781776345892

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Shannon Walsh has written and directed five award-winning feature documentaries that have screened globally, authored over 35 journal articles and book chapters in a range of research areas, and co-edited the book, The Ties that Bind: Race and the Politics of Friendship in South Africa (Wits; with J. Soske). She is a 2021 Guggenheim Fellow and an Associate Professor of Film Production at the University of British Columbia. Claudia Mitchell is a Distinguished James McGill Professor and an Honorary Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she is the co-founder of the Centre for Visual Methodologies. She is the author of 30 books including Teaching in HIV and AIDS (Macmillan; with K. Pithouse-Morgan), and Methodologies for Mapping in Southern African Girlhood in the Age of AIDS (Sense; with R. Moletsane, A. Smith and L. Chisholm). Mandla Oliphant is a community activist, facilitator and organizer based in Khayelitsha, South Africa. Mandla was intimately involved in the early days of the Treatment Action Campaign, as well as multiple HIV and AIDS campaigns and educational initiatives in South Africa. Mandla was a key facilitator of the workshops and activities throughout the duration of the Fire & Hope project since 2003.

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