Editor’s Note
Ilvy Njiokiktjien is not South African — so it might seem strange to choose her to commentate, in pictures of our Born Frees, on how far (or not) we’ve come in the past 25 years. But when you take a close look at this small selection from the collection of images she’s been taking for the past 10 years you will find her vision eloquent.
Njiokiktjien has been returning to SA from the Netherlands every year to pursue her project to explore the lives of the youth Nelson Mandela named as “priority target groups” in his National Youth Policy of 1996. In her images and videos, the born frees question the outcome of the dream Mandela had for them. They talk about modern-day racism: what it’s like to be black or coloured today — and this South African story has many connections to other race-related stories around the world. Her pictures also tell the stories of the changing lives of young women — they change and stay the same — unemployed men, rural youths and youngsters living with HIV/Aids. There are born frees struggling and born frees thriving. Far from being free — corruption, crime, poverty and the past still keep many born frees captive.
Njiokiktjien says that the variety of
people in her pictures provide a broad perspective on the lives, ambitions and beliefs of the children born after apartheid. They are now adults in their 20s who will hopefully vote.
Njiokiktjien’s series, called Born Free — Mandela’s Generation of Hope, is one of the most unique and comprehensive projects of its kind and will be released as a book of the same name this week. Her latest work, included in the book, tells the story of our high unemployment rate, the homeless and also the new
“freedoms” for the LGBTQ community in SA. She also follows Hlomela Bucwa, the youngest parliamentarian, campaigning on her way to the elections. SA produces a mixed bag of emotions — elation and despair.
On page 6, Nomzamo Mbatha encourages the youth to vote by collaborating with Levi’s and expressing her passionate views on making her mark. Yolisa Mkele has given up on the idea of the born frees and puts all his hope in the “born very frees” on the same page.
Billie Eilish, a born-privileged Californian 17-year-old singer, has a gloomy view of the world that we hope isn’t as catchy as her songs, see page 53. And finally, The Last Word is a bald-faced call to positivity. Enjoy.