#59: Botlhale Nompumelelo (Lelo)
This week we are joined by self-identified African punk, Lelo, who tells us more about Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ phase, Couldn’t Wait to Tell You… by Liv.e, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, and more.
Lelo, Botlhale Nompumelelo, in full is a 21 year old self-identified African punk from Pretoria studying at Wits. They’re doing their final year of a BA in Philosophy and Anthropology. Their work branches through multiple disciplines and fields, you can call me them an artistic genius if you’d like. They’re here to revolutionise and heal the collective; to spread their message of world-making outside of the binary and social constructs of oppressive systems. More than that, they’re here to be themselves. They believe existence is a gift and we’re the fruit that bears the power. We just have to believe in the world that we’re making and love will lead the way.
We welcome Lelo to The FRM Newsletter to share what they’ve been into recently!
🌍💞 The Art of African Spirituality
My favourite thing about myself is my African existence. It is undeniable that when I get to caress the earth with my bare feet that the sparks underneath ignite my light. My people and my land are truly my being and my home. Most of all, there is an inexplicable mastery in being able to live life as art, as spirit and as a child of nature. How am I to be simple and small when all that is, exists within me? I can be a tree or a bird or the Sun or the mountains or the ocean, and all that comes with society and complexity. I am all that is and my art is a reflection of that. African spirituality is my mastery of creating life.
My recent bingeing spree, a delectable psychedelic horror TV series. Imagine the loop that you experience on a psychedelic mushroom trip, except you’re with a bunch of strangers and monsters that come alive in the night to devour you to shreds. One of my loveliest binges to date.
🎙🚺 The Black Girl Condition Podcast
My personal self-expression platform for deconstruction as experienced and learned through a young Black femme’s lens. This project is my baby, the creation which I've birthed by pouring all my existence into it. All I have is a phone and a dream, and this is what I want the people to know about me.
🎹🤩 Almeda by Solange
In honour of being blickity-black-black.
👩🎤🎛 Couldn’t Wait to Tell You… by Liv.e
This album makes me feel so okay with being a punk romantic. Real n*ggas need love, you know what I mean? She makes me love being queer and sexy and flirty. I don’t know if I want her or if I wanna be her. Sultry sweetness.
Ⓜ😈 Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ phase
Much of my outfit and aesthetic inspo comes from the legend himself. His Thriller to Bad transition gives me so much inspiration bro. I don't know what was in the drinks and food during the 70s and 80s but these artists were cooking something, if you know what I mean (sniff sniff). Regardless, my punk baddie experience started from the sparkles of the Michael Jackson swag and glimmer.
🌄☮ Johannesburg Botanical Gardens
My favourite spot for letting nature embrace me. Damn, and it’s free? One of the treasures of Johannesburg for real. Please, go and touch grass if you can. Most of my life is spent in meditation, and if I could find a place to live, it would be this place. I genuinely mean that.