2020
Mpho (Zawadi) Mashego
- Age: 27
- | She/they
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To deliver the art, to live within art, to become The Art.
- Mpho (Zawadi) Mashego
Bio
Mpho Mashego also known as Zawadi is a visual artist, poet, writer, performer and craft teacher. She is co-founder of The Queer Republic, a borderless nation of queers and allies that advance the rights and lives of the LGBTQ community. She advocates against discrimination towards dark skinned people, she educates the youth about HIV, substance abuse and learning how to love oneself. She is passionate about healing wounds caused by colonization and reviving the spirit and unity of Africa.
What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?
I grew up in a gendered household, my mother being the instigator of gender roles and I couldn't help but revolt. As I grew up, I realized that the world is structured with the same gender roles as the ones at home then I decided to revolt with more energy than I had put in before.
Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.
Hearing friends and colleagues advocate for gender equality and people I've worked with carry the same energy of fighting against injustices. It brings me joy seeing the impact of one's work and knowing that there are more people that work towards a genderless world.
Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?
Painting, writing, trimming grass and gardening.
Languages Spoken:
- English (Advanced/Native)
- Setswana (Advanced/Native)
- French (Intermediate)
- Kiswahili (Elementary)
- Setswana (Advanced/Native)
