#LifebeyondHIV

In celebration of World Aids Day (1 December), a group of HIV positive people and advocates in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, in collaboration with local artists and musicians bring a powerful message of living active, creative lives and proving that HIV is in no way a death sentence.

They have done this through the making of two giant mural paintings in Khayelitsha, recorded a song and a video showing the mural paintings.

THE HIV+ ACTIVISTS who feature in the film & mural are Tembisa Mbhobho and Welcome Makele. Their decision to have their faces on the mural is incredibly brave, given the prejudice and fear around HIV, and AIDS phobia in SA. 

Meet Tembisa Mbhobho, HIV+ activist:

“I volunteered to be part of the mural painting because the youth isn’t as brave as I am. HIV kills whoever wants to die. I’m doing this for girls younger than me so they can grow up seeing that a woman my age can be on a mural painting and not be ashamed of their status.

I found out I was HIV positive in September 2008. I fell pregnant in 2010, so I took ARVS and my child is negative. I’ve never been on a mural painting. Some people are shy to see themselves on walls, but I was really excited to see myself.”

Meet Welcome Makele, HIV+ activist:

“I’ve been living with HIV since 1998. Working for the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), I give advice to people who need it, and I distribute condoms. They call me the ‘Condom Man’. The sitgma attached to handing out condoms was very high, but I’ve told myself that if I’ve managed to convince once person in a month, I’ll be clapping my hands that I’ve done something.

When the artists came back with the final draft of their work, I was so happy.  They just did what Welcome is.

This mural is for us, it’s made by the people of Khayelitsha. If you put something on a wall it will last for many years and the people will keep on passing and reading the message until the message is in their heads. If you are diagnosed today, go for ARVS. Don’t be ashamed of yourself. There is life beyond HIV.”

#LifebeyondHIV was written, composed and produced by well-known Khayelitsha hip hop artist and producer P’zho.

P’zho is one of a growing community of conscious rappers hailing from South Africa’s main urban settlements, who rap in a mix of English and vernacular, informing their audiences about social issues.  

The song switches between isiXhosa and English and is written in the local ‘spaza’ style, and urges listeners to take a stand against HIV with three simple messages: 

get tested, 

take your meds 

and please, condomise.