'We bring the creation in every industry' — Buhlebendalo on a quest to find Mzansi's next best queer choir
Following her exit from a cappella group The Soil after nearly 13 years, Buhlebendalo “Buhle” Mda has embarked on a quest to look for Mzansi's next best queer choir.
As we warm up for the Feather Awards, the singer has partnered with founder and activist Thami “Dish” Kotlolo to bring more queer visibility and they are set to host auditions around Gauteng.
The criteria is candidates must be over the age of 18, reside in and around Johannesburg, be part of the LGBTIQA+ community, and have “a voice to knock us off our feet”.
“Entrants are encouraged to send me a 30-second video of themselves singing with the 'MzansiGayChoirAuditions' hashtag.
“The queer community runs each and every industry and it's just a matter of us sustaining and being consistent in our visibility as queer beings. It's important to try and maintain it. We bring the creation in every industry,” Buhle told TshisaLIVE.
“I've always been vocal about what I stand for, it's just that now I'm intentional about it. I make sure that I am hurt and received with kindness. One thing that I have learnt throughout my activism is to be cognisant of how I present myself, and how I stand by what I believe in. I also choose not to focus on the negative.”
Buhle, who left The Soil in early September, said it had just been a matter of time as she had thought about doing it for a while. She said she was grateful to be able to sink her teeth into other industries.
“When I left The Soil, I started looking at the world on my own with the eye of doing things by myself. It has been a journey of introspection of what was my contribution to the union, what is my contribution to self, and how I can better myself as an artist and a healer because, in everything I do, I make sure I heal in every space.
“The transition has been happening for a while now, it's been brewing inside me for years and I am now relieved and in a space where I am open and flexible to create further outside of even making music.”
Buhle aims to bring healing to the queer community.
The singer hosts conversation sessions with her partner about issues surrounding the LGBTIQA+ community through their shared Instagram page Bees on the Couch.
In celebration of pride month, the couple is set to host an event dubbed “Colours of Love” on June 30 focusing on healing queer creatives through yoga, sip 'n paint and other activities.
“We talk about queer rights and queer stories. It's a healing space for queer people. We are going to be closing pride month with healing through movement and conversation. People should come and heal while being gay,” she told TshisaLIVE.