By Manyatsa Monyamane

When a confident black woman struts through a space, her presence is announced by the energy she exudes. Her gait, attire, and sheer elegance precede her, forming unshakeable, roaring opinions in the minds of those looking on. Such women would have a certain phrase associated with their characters. In the African culture you may hear someone utter “Mme o, ona le serithi” which loosely translates to “This woman has a powerful aura”. She jolts you from your sense of comfort and compels you to lean forward and take notice of her.

This project seeks to emphasise the erasure of black bodies, specifically black women’s bodies, in modern history, while also looking to highlight that we are not in an age where women of colour are able to start sculpting their own narratives, voices and images; that women of colour have never been encouraged to embrace their beings as freely as should have been the case; and that as a result, a hyper-sexual society discourages the full expression of womanhood, particularly in the case of women of colour.

Each woman who contributes to this series brings forth a different personality whilst maintaining a true sense of self. This series showcases the multiplicity of characteristics that make each woman intensely unique in terms of her aptitude to embrace everything that comes with being a black woman.