Article: Women of Mzansi : Henriette Botha X Churche collaboration
Women of Mzansi : Henriette Botha X Churche collaboration
To celebrate women's month this August, we collaborated with the lovely Adi Koen and Angie Durrant Batis of Churche on our #womenofmzansi photo portrait series.
We wanted to celebrate women of Mzansi, strong women with great stories that we felt needed to be shared and celebrated. Over the month of August we will share these portraits with you along with their stories.
We would also love to hear from you, your story and what you think being a woman in South Africa means?
#womenofmzansi
Our First woman is Moonchild Sanelly, a design and musical artist you might remember her from her song 'Rabubi' if not for her iconic blue cotton locks.
Describing her sound as “futuristic-ghetto-funk”, Moonchild Sanelly is unlike any other musical act that you have experienced. Her lyrics do not shy away from serious topics, be it the way social media disconnects us from the real world or women' s battles with body image. Before moving to Johannesburg, Moonchild made a name for herself in the Durban music scene, performing at festivals across KwaZulu-Natal as well as receiving high acclaim for her fashion design. After a great performance in New York last year this design and musical-artist sensation’s high-energy fusion of experimental, electronic, afro- punk and edgy-pop was invited to perform at the SXSW 2016 festival in Houston.
We had a bit of a chat with Moonchild on what is it being a woman and this is what she had to say:
HB: What does being a woman in SA mean to you?
MS: It means I can handle anything and everything thrown at me by the world . It also makes me feel like just because you're a woman you have to work 10 times more than a male to get recognition
HB: As a woman, what is the one thing you are tired of hearing?
MS: You're doing well for a girl
HB: Would you consider yourself as your role model?
MS: I wouldn’t consider myself a role model, I know im an influencer because people tend to follow what I do, I love that I just always hope that its not just the image but the messages I carry through my music. I feel more like a teacher than anything. Teaching through cool
HB: Why is women empowerment important to you?
MS: Women need to take their power back,yes we get violated on the daily and there isn’t always something you can do about it,if anything…when a woman is empowered they know their value,if they cant fight,they still stand for what they believe in. Our power is tested on the regular by exterior forces. It needs to begin with us,the more aware of the strength you own,the more charge you can take. It begins with self!!!
HB: What is your personal philosophy?
MS: Life's challenges are opportunities to create new song
And everything passes
Always ask because you have so much to gain and nothing to lose because a NO will not kill you
HB: What in your opinion makes a woman beautiful?
MS: Confidence,style and brains…yesssss sense of humour
Being themselves comfortably