A History of Coochie Conversations | Kagure Mugo & Siphumeze Khundayi | TEDxCapeTownWomen

Tiffany Mugo and Siphumeze Khundayi are the powerful pair behind HOLAAfrica, an online Pan African queer womanist community dealing with sexuality and all things woman. Together they lead us on an exploration of the rich African historical accounts of sexualities which are alive in folklore, song, markings, naming systems and more.
Kagure Mugo is the intoxicatingly scary gatekeeper of HOLAAfrica, an online Pan African queer womanist community dealing with sexuality and all things woman. and a Youth Fellow for the Open Society Foundation. She is also a writer, digital and social media consultant and freelance journalist who tackles sex, politics and other less interesting topics. During weekends she is a wine bar philosopher and polymath for no pay.
Siphumeze Khundayi is a multi-disciplinary freelance performer and photographer who these mediums as a means of activism, focusing particularly on issues of identity which was informed by her Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies and Drama and her Honours degree in Gender and Transformation (UCT). This links to the work she does as Artistic Director of HOLAAfrica, a web based platform raise awareness surrounding issues of African female sexuality.
She currently forms part of Drama4Life Playback Theatre Company; has had performances in Artscape Women’s Festival, Drama 4 Life, GIPCA Live Art and Cape Town Fringe, Infecting the City, and Vrystaat Kunstefees.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@carlospagan5870]

That's was very good to know. More useful and important information the whole world needs to know.

[@jarfuloflove7320]

lel

[@dreamweaver5645]

Great talk ladies! Thanks for sharing all of this information.

[@julieanderson7560]

Extrodinarly rich in information. Extraordinary for me because I have not heard of black female sexually spoken of in this way

[@bucketfoot5306]

I have never head of short bald men sexually spoken about before. Why haven't I? Because there is nothing unique about bald short men sexually and likewise there is nothing unique about black females sexually. When anyone talks about sex generally they are by definition including black women and bald men. If this is an extraordinary idea to think that black women are human beings then you grew up in a really fucked up place.

[@sun-kissedgoddess9874]

Julie Anderson I agree, no one really dives into black female sexuality and the exploitation that has and it still occurring with that black female body.

[@muktofreedom]

Fantastic, Thank YOU!

[@laurenf.9336]

Another great TEDx talk. ♥

[@doppiaw27vince42]

That's you 🌈☮️

[@juliafrost4967]

I thought the title says "A history of COOKIE" lol

[@ronlight7013]

I get the value of all the positive reinforcement. Nonetheless, why does it so often seem that women with sexual and other forms of personal insecurities feel the need to project these very same insecurities on all other woman who (presumably) have been waiting for the nourishing shelter of the "tribe" to heal them? Many women do quite well on their own and don't require the intervention of others (who can feel their pain or tug on their labia) as requisite to becoming well actualized, wholly functional women in the world.

[@cher_melancholy]

Ron Light Do you know this as fact for all women or only for what you see?

[@bucketfoot5306]

+Blou You need to read more often, your reading comprehension skills are terrible, he did not say anything about "all women" in fact he was saying that not all women are alike but these women in the video are treating them as if they were.

[@cher_melancholy]

You really like to argue don't you? You've been all over this video in this comment section being rude to everyone all because your offended by the video not focusing on a subject you enjoy. My comprehension skills are fantastic. I said all women because I was pointing out that viewpoint only applies to the women that he's seen and knows, not everyone just like in your own comment. Just like they said in the video, African women have been made to feel ashamed of their bodies and used to pleasure men. Also thats his opinion that women do fine on their own without seeking support. Before we can voice the concerns aloud to men, we have to have the conversation amongst ourselves. The point the video is to talk about African women being comfortable with their sexuality and knowing their bodies and having the conversation among other women and stop being ashamed like it's a taboo topic. If you found the video helpful, that's great. If you didn't, move on. That simple.

[@missylynn8175]

Ron Light each woman can decide for themselves if they gain from these types of forums or communications. That said I truly do not believe seeing a woman as outwardly strong and confident says anything about the most intimate parts of her being.

[@missylynn8175]

bucket foot5 these women taking part as audience would not be there if they did not have interest in the subject matter.

[@mimokeep656]

?

[@Leon024]

lol already 2 dislikes

[@Leon024]

make that 3

[@broseidon2519]

Is the video about feminism? I don't want to waste my time.

[@jarfuloflove7320]

Ideas worth spreading... looooooooool

[@watsshakinbacon20]

They aren't okay with black women being portrayed sexually in art but also not okay with religion saying that women should be seen for only their husbands (and husbands for their wives). doesn't add up. Also, one of the art pieces was mocking Kim Kardashian.

[@cher_melancholy]

Andrea Lela Because our bodies are not property, marriage or not. Also you mean Kim Kardashian was mocking us. The one featuring the black woman came first on the 90s.

[@watsshakinbacon20]

Bloü Wow, I hadn't know that about Kim's advertisement. I should have done the research before making a claim. That's crazy that Kim or her team would have that done. But considering the hype around Kim's butt, I see why it was. I guess we have a different opinion of marriage. Maybe some religions look at it as having your wife and her body as property, but others look at it as your body being shared with just that person in intimacy which I think is ideal but you may not. Nevertheless, there shouldn't be a shame surrounding sex but also not exploitation of it. Two extreme ends of the spectrum not to be a part of.

[@cher_melancholy]

The issue wasn't that they want to use african women in art, the issue was that it was being dramatized and put on display like a sideshow rather than just admiration.

[@cher_melancholy]

And it's okay, Kim's photoshoot was wrong for many reasons but she's mainstream so I could see why you thought it was the other way around. That's why we have these discussions though. :D

[@bucketfoot5306]

There is nothing wrong with that Kim's photo shoot, the fact that you would shame her for her sexuality exposes you as the hypocrite that you are. Art is all about "side shows" and "dramatized" have you never heard of Salvador Dali or Picasso or just about any artist from the 20th century on? Dramatization is what art is all about. Art is by definition a circus show celebrating the absurdity of life and human beings. Those photos were sexy and there is nothing wrong with it.

[@oyunsurgenc368]

sa

[@DeafASLful]

know all and any Deaf babies do have rights to learn our Deaf cherish beautiful ASL help them all learn language much better.......

[@keshavdamani1273]

guys its ok that the body and color should not be given that sexual and all...but tedx please take some one who masters communication skills ....its lack of enthusiasm or say feel proportional to the topic... hope better speakers from your side atleast>>!

[@tenacious645]

Seems like the ted stage should be about more important things

[@sun-kissedgoddess9874]

tenacious645 So black female sexuality or female sexuality is not important? But we hear about male sexual issues all the time

[@tenacious645]

Tisha I didn't say that. I qualified it with the word "more". Secondly, what male sexual issues do they go on and on about in Ted talks? I haven't seen any, but if they're there I suggest they're just as important if not less so than these. I'm not going to pretend like male sexuality (hetero, cis) hasn't had the limelight over any other. Even psychologically female sexual development was an after thought to people like Freud and people still use his teachings today. So for that sentiment alone I'd put female sexual issues as more important than males, especially since there are still areas of the world that actively suppress women, but these ideas all hinge on cultural perspective, and in the western world women have surpassed men in many ways in this area. Unfortunately this social justice movement has sort of tainted the liberal movement by seeking to enforce its views. By demanding that society and the individual conform to their brand of openness, and I'm just not buying it. There's nothing of great importance about these ideas. They're all on the table and have been for some time. People can choose to indulge or not, but there is no on going breakthrough here. At this point it is just trying to convince people there are facts where only opinions exist. Now what I'd see as important are actual breakthroughs in the fields that change humanity, not through thought suppression or imposing your social view of the world but through inevitable technological or scientific advancement.

[@sun-kissedgoddess9874]

tenacious645 All of that and you can't understand why black female sexuality deserves a platform. Maybe you didn't watch the video. Maybe too are unclear of the history of the black female in America. Black women were bought and sold and treated and their sexuality was reduced to merely profit for another. Black women were made the villain because we have a body structure that is unlike any other woman. Our hips are large and our frames are not straight and narrow, unlike every other group of woman. In Africa today women are still rob of their sexuality as ritualistic butchering occurs on their bodies. No other group of woman has endured what the black woman has, yet you have the audacity to think that it does not belong on a Ted talk. And you want to justify your thought with a thesis. Your bias and sexism is showing and it really does stink

[@tenacious645]

Tisha Again, I never said it didn't deserve a platform. Just not a ted stage. Also, are you really going to pretend wide hips and "non-straight" frames are black women specific? Hahaha you're full of shit sweetheart. Your racism is showing and it stinks. Your argument is total bullshit. Quit being racist for 5 minutes. Open your eyes. You're acting as if what happened to black people in the 1800s has anything to do with what black women go through today. Give it a rest.

[@tenacious645]

Tisha Oh and I'm sure women in Suadi Arabia would LOVE to match stories of who has it worse today. The only time period that really matters when it comes to really fighting oppression...You know the fact that this video exists and she does have a stage doesn't really bode well for your implied argument that society is still trying to repress women and black people.