Bella Makhubo – South Africa
Bella Makhubo stands as an innovative creative entrepreneur who harnesses photography and digital media to craft compelling, socially conscious narratives.
Known widely as the “Township Photographer”, her lens focuses intently on crucial societal themes including community challenges, gender-based violence, family relationships, feminist perspectives, and sexuality. By masterfully blending visual imagery with written storytelling, Makhubo develops engaging digital narratives that elevate marginalised voices and catalyse public discourse.
Her work stems from a deep-seated conviction that township stories must not only be shared but also gain widespread visibility, discussion, and recognition in both public dialogue and creative spheres.
Makhubo’s photos in “Esigangeni” show nature and everyday things. She elaborates:
“A pressing concern in my township is the prevalence of rodent infestations in our homes. I sought to create imagery that emphasises the substantial size of these large rodents.”
This work illuminates the urgent yet often overlooked challenges facing her community.
Pimville’s “Vukuzenzele” showcases a community transforming a waste site into a vibrant recreational area. Makhubo analyzes gender and its role in sports and movement in her work, “Female Riders”. At Lebo’s Backpackers, women and girls are learning to cycle; this is what a photographer captured.
“My intention was to explore and challenge the prevalent misconception that bicycles are exclusively meant for males.”
Throughout her body of work, Bella Makhubo champions inclusive storytelling that brings township realities into broader cultural dialogues, empowering communities to take ownership of their stories and spaces.
Author: Trevor Davies
I’m Trevor Davies, a senior consultant, creating my own media training deliverables. Forty years of experience with scores of NGOs and hundreds of trainees mentored to successful careers in visual storytelling are amongst the many reasons we should work together. htttps://trevordavies.org
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