Written By @_rooat
Photography By @blackmilk_za
Styling By @amyzamaa
Make-up By @enhlenyembe_
Assistance By @jollyboytheo
It’s not every day you come across individuals that possess an extraordinary presence that can only be understood in person or be tasted through word of mouth. I’m talking about individuals that knowingly or unknowingly carry huge responsibilities on their backs because of the paths that they have chosen. It’s difficult to imagine that through all the troubles, thickness and utter bullsh*t situations that our country constantly goes through at a seasonal pace that one could actually come across modern-day heroes that do what they can to entice a trans-formative spirit that exists within all of us. Progression can be contagious if embraced… Well, at least I’ve become a true believer of that because I think I’ve caught the “bug”. The variance bug that Lelowhatsgood has been spreading around through his love for community, connectivity & growth.
Born Zane Ntsikelelo ‘Lelo’ Meslani, young multi-talented Lelowhatsgood has become a figure of real change through his trans-formative and unifying ‘Vogue Nights’ events. Recognized as a spear that is breaking down societal perceptions, stereotypes, and views surrounding the queer community within South Africa, Lelo’s role currently combines leadership & motivation qualities that are much needed in not only celebrating the LGBQTI+ community in a country that continues to expose itself as predominantly premature when it comes to LGBQTI+ topics as clearly seen by the constant discrimination but in connecting everybody willing to accept their uniqueness. Apart from heading up ‘Vogue Nights’, Lelowhatsgood is, of course, influential in other areas such as the South African advertising and media industry, the music scene (he is a DJ) ad fashion scene. With that said I got the chance to ask him a few questions that I hope the person reading this will know something new about him. And as one of the three protagonists leading up the current Nike #AllFor1JHB competition, allow me to introduce to you Lelowhatsgood…
Alright, first question Lelo?
OK.
Why do you do what you do?
Why do I do what I do? I think I do what I do… It’s just basically because I don’t want to be a spokesperson for the community, but I feel like I represent a much-needed voice for people who don’t necessarily want to speak up through music, style, my writing or having a social media presence. I do what I do because feel like there’s a necessary need to do so.
Tell us a bit more about Lelo and just his background.
So, I was born here in Johannesburg in the East Rand and a few years down the line I moved to Durban and then I came back to Joburg to study at varsity. And then during that time it was you know, obviously things were really rough… It was just the whole fees must fall movement, so I had to drop out of university at first year and then I had to move on to UNISA to basically go study further. And between that, luckily enough, I landed myself some internships at different digital agencies, these digital journalistic write-ups… that I used to do back then that gave me some sort of portfolio and yeah that’s where I literally just started my journey. And from there just like meeting different types of people in the industry and just growing myself.
Talk to us about vogue nights and what compelled you to take on that responsibility to create such a sub-culture. What inspired you to pursue it.
So I had been admiring the Ball culture from afar because it’s something that started in New York City in the 80s and I think adopting such a culture that is much more important globally, I think the growing globalization of that in different parts of the city such as Berlin Amsterdam, the UK, etc. I thought it was a very cool way for me to just bring a community of the LGBQTI+ community and just make a safer space for them to sort of express themselves, especially because in Johannesburg I think we have a very hostile or like volatile environment when it comes to the nightlife space. Femme presenting bodies, women, queer people… don’t really necessarily have a place to call home basically so I think that was an action towards that.
Talk to us about some of the challenges that you’ve faced personally that you have had to conquer or even are still in the pursuit of conquering, which have obviously also empowered you to move forward and progress.
I think it’s the shyness or getting to know people. I think I’ve really had to overcome that and just sort of step out of my shell because I’ve always been a sort of closed or a one-man type of individual. So, I always just hung by myself or just like a little group of friends but like now I think a lot of the work I do is like public-facing and especially with like my writing and stuff… A lot of people read it so I have to engage or respond to people. So, with that, it already puts me, my voice out there.
And what do you makes dance culture such a force of change in your opinion?
I think its self-expression more than anything… I think people don’t know how to release whatever they are going through in their personal life, so when they are given a platform or a chance to really just step out and release whatever sort of energy it is, be it through dance or any other medium that is. Yeah, so I think dance is really that sort of thing that people really just get loose to.
So how has dance or how has vogue nights changed your life?
It has changed my life by seeing the difference it has made in other people’s lives. And I mean that in the kindest way because I think a lot of people for a long time couldn’t find a place to sort of belong. So, I think when they start seeing people in the same sort of community or meeting new people or making friends… it’s just a wonderful kind space. I don’t think we’ve ever seen that exist in any way locally.
“Femme presenting bodies, women, queer people… don’t really necessarily have a place to call home basically so I think that was an action towards that” – Lelowhatsgood
And if you were to meet yourself 5 years ago or the Lelo that’s like 10 years old, what advice would you give that Lelo?
I would say to the younger me to just literally go for what you believe in and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I think there will be a lot of voices that are telling you “NO! You’re not good enough” or that this is not worth it but think I would tell the younger me to just keep pushing because you just never know what’s going to happen.
What is the story that Lelo is trying to tell or is telling with life right now?
The story that I’m trying to tell is just to always be yourself. No matter what. No matter who you are. And I think having a very kind heart as well will take you far. I think we live in a very strange world as it is. I think we live in very strange times. So always being nice to people or being genuine in whatever sort of way… We just need to always be yourself.
Why is Vogue a force of change?
Vogue is a force of change because it brings together a group of individuals, different individuals that come together to house and they compete for a trophy or to be known as the best. And I think why that’s important is because society outside of that voguing space or culture is just a lot of people looking down unto the community so it’s one way to just celebrate each other through voguing. Through categories, through walking, through the music, through fashion, through the style. And yeah…
END.
Nike is looking for the dopest dance crew this side of the hemisphere! Fire Force Battle will reveal the hottest crews on these Jozi streets. Enter by submitting a video on social media of you and your crew (minimum of 5 crew members over the ages of 16) using the hashtag #AllFor1JHB. The Fire Force Battle will take place at Sport Scene Sandton on the 12 October and the winners will perform on the main stage at Capsule Festival on the 26th of October. Come through and show your fire #AllFor1JHB