BLACK BULL, ANCESTORS AND ME, my life as a lesbian sangoma

138pp., paperback, b/w & colour illus., paperback, Reprint, (2008) 2022

Winner of the 2010 American Library Association's Stonewall Book Award.

At the time of his death in 2018 Nkunzi Zandile Nkabinde had completed a gender transition. The pronouns he/him/his are used below but the pronouns she/her/hers remain unchanged in the text and reviews.

As a sangoma (traditional healer), Nkunzi was able to explore dimensions of his sexual identity because of his relationship with both male and female ancestors.

Nkunzi Zandile Nkabinde was born in 1975. He received his calling to become a sangoma (traditional healer) at the time of his mother's death, while he was studying journalism. During this time he was also named for his ancestor Nkunzi (Black Bull), who gave him his healing powers.

"Nkunzi has made an astonishing breakthrough for homosexuality in Africa, because she has been accepted for who she is by standing up for lesbian and gay rights while completely retaining African culture." Elspeth Bezemer-Mendes, Tonight

"What exactly makes a story about a lesbian sangoma notable? Is it the fact that it is about a sangoma or about a lesbian? Could it be the fact that we never discuss a sangoma's sexual orientation? Are sangomas even allowed to have sex? The reality is that this is a story doubt a woman like any other who, because of her life choices, is pushing the social boundaries of many South Africans." Sihle Dlamini, The Times