Meet the girls featured in The Born Frees. Read some short excerpts of their writing and listen to recordings as they read their own words.
Annasuena
I am a writer by birth
A vocalist by choice
An expressionist by nature
And an instrument by voice.
Listen to Annasuena read her writing:
Sharon
iGugulethu, ilakishi, ikasi, the ghetto. It is where I was born and where I have spent twenty years of my life. And guess what? I’m still alive. See, that’s the very thing I like about Gugs. You always have a choice. …
Listen to Sharon read her writing:
Ntombizanele (“Ntombi”)
To me, being a Born Free means I can live my life without having to be suppressed by other people. It means I can be able to raise my voice and be heard. I can bring change to others and also to my surroundings. I can climb mountains of our beautiful creation, I can dream what is said to be impossible.
Listen to Ntombi read her writing:
Olwethu (left) and Sive
I’m the history of this continent
And also the future of this continent.
I am the sister of brothers.
I am a human
Trying to survive.
-Olwethu
Gugu
To me, writing is me.
It is me listening
to what I have to say,
to what I want to say,
to what my heart says.
Mandlakazi
I wish I could get out of my comfort zone. I wish I could be as adventurous as George of the Jungle. I wish I could turn my weaknesses into strengths. I wish I could conquer my fears. I wish I could be more focused in whatever I do. I wish I could fly like a bird and be as bright as a jackal.
All photographs by Kimberly Burge.