Gay black sissies

I immediately went online to have a quick listen, and then bought the album instantly. The subject matter of the album is of particular interest to me. The album focuses on the experiences of a black gay man, trying to make sense of the world. The album is the life journey of a black gay man predominantly sung in Gay black sissies.

I love this album and I am with Majola in the politics of this album. This album is the epitome of being young, gifted, queer, and black. The first thing that grabs your attention about this album is gay black sissies title. So Boet or in Xhosa Bhuti represents the male side, and then Sissy of course represents the effeminacy.

It is a term that suggests one has both male and female genitalia. With the risk of sounding too postmodern, Majola is reclaiming this phrase; he is taking back the power. The fact that the album is mostly sung in Xhosa, which means it is directed to a black audience, speaks profoundly of the politics Majola is engaged in.

When I saw the name of this album, I immediately thought about the piece I wrote about the complexities of sexual identity and the Xhosa language. In the piece I try to come to terms with having no specific Xhosa words in everyday language to talk about the diversity of sexual and gender identity.

In the beginning of the album, in the first interlude Majola is standing in front of a judge before he is sentenced to jail. And then Majola goes on to define what he thinks is a man. Although I like what he says, and I think that he is politically astute to issues of masculinity, I find the five interludes in the album interruptive.

After the first interlude Majola then proceeds to the first song, track number two. The track is named Khanyisaand it starts with the birth of a boy named Khanyisa in which incidentally is the year I was born. As Khanyisa grows up, experiences life, trying to discover himself, he gets lost wondering through life.

The friendship that Khanyisa has with Nobanzi restores him, as this woman loves him.

Boet/Sissy – Black. Queer. Xhosa.

The affection with witch the lyrics are delivered warms the heart. The song is almost homage to the relationship between black women and effeminate black gay men. I gay black sissies these relationships. These relationships are what got me through high school. I would be nothing, nothing without the love and support of black women.

The song sets the tone for the album in a way, as he deals with issues of light and darkness, getting lost and found, and eventually loving yourself. The third track called Bawo — father — the word is also often used in reference to God. This song is an affirmation of the gay identity.

Majola talks about a boy who is cursed out, really chased out by his father for falling in love with other men. Majola begs in this, asking why the father is rejecting the gay son, where will he go? What is this boy to do? There is a theme of redemption in this album, and in this song Majola then continues with the narrative of being lost and found.

The gay boy who is cursed out by the father finds his way to the big city and his life spirals out of control. This is a powerful song that speaks to the lives of many lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex LGBTI young people who escape home because of abuse.