Thami Majela is an actor, dancer, and performing artist. ‘Mommy Mommy’ is a collaboration with Dattie Capelli, Cebolenkosi Zuma, and Tebogo Gxubane and is described as "A tale of the configuration of the young, subconscious voice: A digital collage of real life stories on manhood, sexuality, abuse, and authority."
Instructions for viewing from the artistic team:
"I remember being dragged naked down the street by my mother because I was found in the nearby field with boys in a makeshift shack at six in the evening. The humiliation. I was beaten and told it was wrong. From that day on I was wrong to myself in every way. I'm finally free now and it's beautiful.
"I loved taking walks, for hours. And randomly, I'd approach and ask: 'would you like to... have sex?’ The men were a lot older than me, but they didn't bat an eye when I said I was 13.
"I was 16 years old, she asked me to come over. I really liked her. Actually, I was in love, and I thought she loved me too. I wasn't really ready to have sex. I told her we can't, we don't have protection. She whipped it out of her dictionary. She said she'd teach me, and if I really loved her this would make her happy. I knew I wasn't ready, but I did anyway. It wasn't what I expected. It didn't feel good – for so long I made up for that feeling."
Concept | Thami Majela
Performers | Dattie Capelli, Cebolenkosi Zuma and Thami Majela
Video Editor | Thami Majela
Dramaturg & Vocal Artist | Tebogo Gxubane
Curator of The Long Minute | Bronwyn Lace